ethics and classical philosophy

ethikos

greek word derived from ethos, habit or custom

ethikos

can also mean “relating to one’s character”,

‘ethos

and from the noun meaning “disposition”

ethics

study of people’s irght and duties, sets standards of good and bad or right and wrong

business ethics

branch of ethics that governs businesses, study of moral standards that influence business people’s decisions and actions

socrates

concerned primarily with how people should behave

Dialogues

socrates’ views written by his student plato

plato

best known, most widely studied and most influential philosopher

virtue ethics

person rather than action-based, looks at the moral character of the person carrying out the action

virtue ethics teaches the following

1. action is right if a virtuous person would do the same

2. a virtuous person is someone who acts virtuously

3. they possess and live the virtues

4. virtue is a moral characteristic

list of virtues

1. prudence

2. justice

3. fortitude/bravery

4. temperance

prudence

allows a person to judge correctly what is right and what is wrong in any given situation

justice

defined as the constant and permanent determination to give everyone his or her rightful due

fortitude or bravery

commonly called “courage”, allows us to overcome fear and to remain steady in our will in the face of obstacles

temperance

restraint of one’s desires or passions