compare bantham's idea of ethics with aristotle
Post on 21-Oct-2014
305 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
Compare Bantham’s Idea of Ethics with Aristotle.
WHAT IS ETHICS?
Come from the Greek’s word Ethos, which means
“character”.
Dealing with human morality, such as good and evil, right
and wrong, virtue.
ARISTOTLE
384-322 B.C.E
Born in Stagira in North Greece
He was sent to Athens to study philosophy with
Plato in 367 B.C.E
Tutor of Alexander the Great
Aristotle started his own school in Athens, called
the Lyceum
ARISTOTLE’S ETHICS
Ethics starts with actual moral judgments before
the formulation of general principles.
Find the ultimate purpose of human life.
Is an attempt to find out our chief end or highest
good : an end which he maintains is really final.
Happiness must be based on human nature and
must begin from the facts of personal experience.
CONT…
Eudemonistic ethics
Living well and doing well in the world.
Happiness is the end of the life which all peoples
aims.
Focusing on being succesfull.
CONT…
Aristotle distinguishes between happiness (eudaemonia) and moral
virtue:
Moral virtue is not the end of life for it can go with inactivity, misery,
and unhappiness.
Happiness, the end of life, that to which all aims, is activity in
accordance with reason (reason is the arete or peculiar excellence of
persons).
Happiness is an activity involving both moral and intellectual arete.
Some external goods are necessary in order to exercise that activity.
CONT…
Pleasure is the natural accompaniment of unimpeded activity.
Pleasure, as such, is neither good nor bad.
Even so, pleasure is something positive and its effect is to perfect
the exercise of activity. Everything from playing chess to making
love is improved with skill.
Pleasure cannot be directly sought--it is the side-product of activity.
It is only an element of happiness.
The good person, the one who has attained eudaemonia, is the
standard as to what is truly pleasant or unpleasant.
ARISTOTLE’S QUOTESHappiness
CONT…Pleasure
CONT…
JEREMY BENTHAM
1748-1832
British philosopher, jurist, social reformer, political
radical
Leading theorist in Anglo-American philosophy of law
Founder of modern utilitarianism
His secretary and collaborator James Mill
Tutor of John Stuart Mill (James Mill’s son)
JEREMY BENTHAM’S ETHICS
Principle of utilitarianism, which evaluates actions based
upon their consequences
The relevant consequences, in particular, are the overall
happiness created for everyone affected by the action
The greatest happiness principle
Universal egoism
The artificial identification of one’s interests with those of
others
WHAT IS UTILITARIANISM?
Ethical system around the idea of pleasure
Ancient hedonism which pursued physical pleasure
and avoided physical pain
Maximize pleasure and minimize pain
His utility’s principal sometimes been called the
“utilitarian calculus”
Greatest happiness of the greater number.
HIS FAMOUS QUOTES
Happiness
CONT…
“By the principle of utility is meant that principle
which approves or disapproves of every action
whatsoever, according to the tendency which it
appears to have to augment or diminish the
happiness of the party whose interest is in question:
or, what is the same thing in other words, to promote
or to oppose that happiness.”
CONT…Pain and Pleasure“Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two
sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to
point out what we ought to do, as well as to determine what we
shall do. On the one hand the standard of right and wrong, on
the other the chain of causes and effects, are fastened to their
throne. They govern us in all we do, in all we say, in all we
think: every effort we can make to throw off our subjection, will
serve but to demonstrate and confirm it”.
SUMMARY
Similarities
They aim for the happiness in life as the final end.
They both focus on rational activity, or reasoning,
as the key component in what makes a good life for a
human being.
They believe the importance of the state.
SUMMARY
Differences
Happiness must be based on human nature and
must begin from the facts of personal experience.
(Aristotle)
The greatest happiness of the greatest number.
(Bentham)
SUMMARY…
Differences
In order to be happy, one must live a fully human
live by living life according to reason. (Aristotle)
In order to be happy, one must live life with the
intent of increasing the overall happiness of
everyone, or increasing the amount of pleasure.
(Bentham)
SUMMARY
Differences
Pleasure is the natural accompaniment of unimpeded
activity. (Aristotle)
The aim of the wise is not secure pleasure, is avoid pain.
(Aristotle)
Maximize pleasure and minimize pain. (Bentham)
Perspective pleasure and pain are absolutely essential in
finding out one’s happiness. (Bentham)
THE END
top related