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Ethical Theories and Proponents
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Communitarianism
Michael Sandel and Charles Taylor. An ethical theory that emphasizes the interests of the community as a whole and the importance of social values and institutions in shaping individual identities.
Contractarianism
John Rawls. A theory focusing on the fairness of processes for deciding moral norms and distributive justice, often exemplified by Rawls's 'veil of ignorance'.
Social Contract Theory
Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau. This theory posits that morality is founded upon mutual agreements and the social contracts that shape societies.
Virtue Ethics
Aristotle. This theory emphasizes the role of character and virtue in moral philosophy rather than either doing one's duty or acting to bring about good consequences.
Deontology
Immanuel Kant. A theory that suggests actions are morally right based on their adherence to rules and duties, irrespective of the outcomes they produce.
Existentialist Ethics
Jean-Paul Sartre. This ethical perspective emphasizes individual freedom, choice, and personal responsibility within an inherently meaningless and indifferent universe.
Ethical Relativism
Various anthropologists and philosophers. A theory positing that morality is relative to the norms of one's culture and that there are no universal moral standards.
Feminist Ethics
Alison Jaggar and Carol Gilligan. A collection of ethical perspectives which critiques traditional ethical systems as being male-dominant and seeks to redefine or reconsider ethical issues through a feminist lens.
Natural Law Theory
Thomas Aquinas. A theory asserting that morality is grounded in rational understanding and adherence to objectively observable laws of nature.
Utilitarianism
Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. A theory based on the principle of the greatest happiness, suggesting that an action is right if it leads to the most happiness for the greatest number of people.
Care Ethics
Carol Gilligan and Nel Noddings. This theory prioritizes empathy, compassion, and relationships, particularly in personal and dependent scenarios where individuals are in a state of vulnerability.
Divine Command Theory
Various theologians and philosophers including Augustine of Hippo. This theory suggests that morality is intrinsically linked to God's will or commands.
Hedonism
Epicurus. This theory considers the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain to be the highest good and proper aim of human life.
Pragmatic Ethics
William James and John Dewey. This theory suggests that morality should be regarded as a tool for resolving societal challenges, advocating for practices that are most likely to enhance human well-being.
Consequentialism
G. E. M. Anscombe and others. An ethical theory that judges actions by their outcomes, suggesting that the morality of an action is contingent upon its resulting consequences.
Ethical Egoism
Ayn Rand. A normative ethical theory that prescribes that individuals ought to act in their own self-interest.
Stoicism
Zeno of Citium, Seneca, Epictetus. An ancient Greek philosophy that teaches the development of self-control and fortitude as a means of overcoming destructive emotions.
Intuitionism
G. E. Moore and W. D. Ross. This meta-ethical theory asserts that moral truths are known by intuition, an immediate and self-evident cognitive act.
Environmental Ethics
Aldo Leopold and Peter Singer. A part of ethics that explores the moral relationship of humans to, and also the value and moral status of, the environment and its non-human contents.
Nihilism
Friedrich Nietzsche (often associated but not a proponent). This philosophy posits that life is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value, and that moral and religious principles are unfounded.
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