Traditional versus Modern Ethics Response

Historical Developments of Traditional and Modern Ethics

Traditional Ethics is most commonly known as the philosophies and doctrines on ethics and morality that were established during the ancient and the medieval eras (Irwin , 2007 . Among the most notable traditional ethics ' philosophers include Socrates , Plato , Aristotle Hume and Confucius

The distinct trends on ethics during the ancient and medieval periods were the roles of supernatural being or God and the natural process or law on man 's action (Irwin , 2007 . Consequently , The Divine Command Theory and the Theory of Natural Law were

introduced in the study of ethics

Also , Aristotle , Hume and Confucius focus their ethics on the nature of human action that is motivated by his character . Virtue Ethics entered into the picture appealing that the morality of an action can be based on the idea of virtue , habit , and intention (Irwin , 2007

On the other hand , modern ethics arose out of the pursuit to separate ethics from religion (Irwin , 2007 . Among the most famous philosophers who contributed to the rise of modern ethics are John Stuart Mill Immanuel Kant , and John Rawls

In this period of modernity , the basis of morality or ethical principles and theories were anymore not based on what is dictated by an imaginary creature or process . The focus was on the human act itself and its consequences (Irwin , 2007 . It was the period when the Deontological theories and Consequentialist theories become the most used ethical principles employed in ethical dilemmas . The concept of Social Justice was then institutionalized to become applicable to the need of this period (although the very concept of justice was first introduced by Socrates

Moreover , the rise of the contractarian ethics was also marked during this period (Irwin , 2007 . The ever-famous Social Contract was then used to become another basis of morality . Thomas Hobbes , John Locke and Jean Jacques-Rousseau were the most celebrated contractarian philosophers

These are the summarized version of the historical developments of traditional and modern ethics . It shows that the traditional and modern ethics diverge on their different notions of the basis of ethics or morality . The former advocates religion and natural law whereas the latter deduces ethical and moral theories and principles from the human act itself and its known consequences

Reference

Irwin , T (2007 . The Development of Ethics : From Socrates to the Reformation (First ed , Vol . 1 . Oxford University Press

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HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF TRADITIONAL AND MODERN ETHICS...