Summum bonum Essays

According to Aristotle, the basic philosophy behind virtue ethics is that all human good is aimed towards happiness. Aristotle argued that the goal of all of human existence is to be happy and in order to achieve that goal; one must work towards consistently improving their character. He further explains the principal of virtues and vices. Virtues are positive attributes that humans have and can develop over time to acquire happiness. There are two different types of virtues; intellectual virtues

Draft 1 – Sacrifice to Redemtion “When something bad happens you have three choices. You can either let it define you, let it destroy you, or you can let it strengthen you.”, said once by Dr. Seuss. In The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Amir had gone through difficulties and has had to choose from the three choices. If Hassan didn’t sacrifice himself, Amir wouldn’t have become a better person. For the reason that Hassan was raped, Amir felt guilty and began regretting his actions. Every time Amir

One concept that can be compared between the novels we have read so far this semester, The White Tiger and Persepolis is education. The role that education plays in both novels shows a lot about the societies of the time they took place along with the characters. To begin, in The White Tiger, Balram isn’t given the opportunity to gain an education because he needs to begin working to help his cousin. Balram gains intelligence by learning how to make his way through life while not having the book-smarts

Thomas Hobbes is very much aware of the importance attached to the Summum Bonum in the works of the ancient philosophers, however, he insists that the “end we are to consider, that the Felicity of this life, consisteth not in the repose of a mind satisfied. For there is no such Finis ultimus, nor Summum Bonum, as is spoken of in the Books of the old Morall Philosophers. Nor can a man live, whose desires are at an end...Felicity is a continual

Deontological ethical theory, is frequently identified with Immanuel Kant, as he believed from his theory of duty, that If something is wrong then it is always wrong. "Deontological ethical theory is an ethical theory that evaluates behavior in terms of adherence to duty or obligation, regardless of consequences" (Mitchell, 2015, p.455).Deontology considers that moral actions are equivalent to abiding by the rules.Basically this assists us in understanding which behaviors are acceptable and which

Kant believed that certain types of actions which including murder, theft, and lying were bad and should be forbidden, even in cases where the action would bring more happiness than the alternative. Kant’s theory is a deontological moral theory–according to these theories, the rightness or wrongness of actions does not depend on their consequences but on whether they fulfill our duty/ purpose. Synthetic and Analytic Analytic are statements are statements which are true by definition, the predicate

2.4.4.2. John Stuart Mill About Bentham’s influences on him, John Stuart Mill wrote in his Autobiography: "It gave unity to my conceptions of things. I now had opinions; a creed, a doctrine, a philosophy; in one among the best senses of the word, a religion; the inculcation and diffusion of which could be made the principal outward purpose of a life", meanwhile he had a critical view on Bentham's notions. Mill did not accept Bentham’s idea about the human as an only self-interested being. Instead

name on something than that person has limited said thing. Lao Tzu addresses the creation of the universe by stating, “The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth.” He also uses Tao or the Way to describe the true path to happiness or to summum bonum. Lao Tzu states that if a person is subscribing to the Tao than that person will live a full life, but the catch is to be completely following the Tao. This theme also answers another major humanist question: Why am I here? Lao Tzu believes

The Igbo viewed medicine as healing the mind and body as a whole. “For the Igbo the summum bonum or the highest value of life is Ndu (life)... Those illnesses have spiritual undertones which can only be treated in the religious way“ (Emmanuel). They believed in the spirituality of healing. Western medicine and indigenous medicine have competed

the greatest good or maximum pleasure, in the absence of pain, for the most people. The dilemma in this philosophy arises from the definition and pursuit of the greatest good. Hobbes said before in the Leviathan that there is no greatest good or Summum Bonum. In Plato’s Republic, Polemarchus’s definition of justice of doing good to friends and causing harm to enemies is rejected by Socrates because one cannot recognize good or evil, without having knowledge of the good. This is not true for Mill’s

John Stuart Mill is dubbed, “the most influential English language philosopher of the nineteenth century. He was a naturalist, a utilitarian, and a liberal, whose work explores the consequences of a thoroughgoing empiricist outlook” (Macleod). In this essay, I will be answering these questions: What role should individual liberties as clarified in Mill’s On Liberty play in the good life? In addition, do I agree with Mill that coercive intervention is only permissible in restraining human liberties

Hobbes these were the basis for many of his thoughts on human nature. Hobbes claimed that due to this, humans will constantly be searching for happiness but never achieving it leading to conflict with each other as “there is no Finis Ultimus or Summum Bonum” . Through the rebuttal of the idea that humans must always be in motion and consequently never achieve happiness we find that Hobbes is indeed too pessimistic as people often find happiness in exactly what Hobbes argues we would reject in the

In “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism,” Max Weber sought to explain the spirit of capitalism through Protestantism. Max Weber argues that Protestant ethics, ideas and virtues that arose out of the Reformation contributed to the emergence and evolution of modern capitalism. The “Protestant Ethic” is ascetic, characterized as “the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence”, a rejection of worldly affairs, including the pursuit of wealth and possessions

political philosophy work Second Treatise of Government creates an argument surrounding the relationship between reason, rationality, parental power, and obligation. In his study of philosophy, he holds firm the importance of the pursuit of the summum bonum, or the “highest good”, and if we consistently pursue this good, that we will live the best possible life. With the use of rationality and right reason, we will be able to better understand the human condition and have a meaningful and fulfilling

Little progress has been made so far in demystifying the controversy of judging the criterion of what is right or wrong. Since the dawn of philosophy, the question of the “summum bonum” or the greatest good concerning morality. The question has resulted in division into sects and schools warning against each other and is recognized as the core problem when thinking speculatively. According to the Kantian theory, the basis of defining good or bad is based on the will or the intention behind the action

Thomas Aquinas (1225 - 1274) Thomas Aquinas is another important name in the Christian philosophical and theological tradition. Thomas Aquinas deals with issues related to happiness in a detailed manner in his work Summa Theologica. He begins an enquiry into ‘those things in which human happiness consists’ and examines in great detail if it consists in wealth, honour, glory, power, bodily good, pleasure, good of the soul and finally whether it could consist in any created good. While agreeing with

purposes. Kant would believe that an abortion is morally incorrect because it is not right to kill a person and it is considered as a murder under any circumstances.Kant believes that aborted babies are losing out on the opportunity of achieving Summum bonum(the highest good). The act of killing a life as well as any future possibilities of contribution for that person in their life .Kant believes in the santity of life as he considers each human as individual and highest point of intelligence .human

Ever since the ancient and medieval eras of philosophy there have been debates amongst philosophers and theologians concerning the existence of, and attributes that should be ascribed to, the existence of God. In majority of religions around the world, this knowledge of ‘God’ exists; a being perceived as the supreme one, the creator of all. Now the term ‘God’, does not refer to any particular religious’ deities but a term that can cover everything from a perfect omnipotent being to something that

This paper argues that the notion of Substance propounded by Baruch Spinoza can be studied and put forward to a panentheistic, expressive structure of Trinities, in which each triad of concepts is unified into a single idiosyncratic divine nature of God. By dissecting the expressionism in Spinoza’s writings, which is at variance with the philosophy of his predecessors (Descartes, Aquinas and Scotus), one can map out his thinking in analytic and synthetic logic to understand his revolutionary rationalist

of an artist, the kindness and tenderness that rises above life and transcends all barriers. Lawrence Durrell’s primary contribution to twentieth century writing is his most challenging and sublime masterpiece The Alexandria Quartet. It is the ‘summum bonum’ of all Durrell’s literary, aesthetic and philosophical theories in life. “Guardian Books Podcast: Lawrence Durrell at 100” features presenter Claire Armistead in conversation with travel writer, Jan Morris who was specially commissioned for Durrell