A Short History of Ethics Essay examples - 1283 Words

In chapters three and four of A Short History of Ethics, Alastair MacIntyre makes a clear distinction between two philosophical doctrines at loggerheads: the Sophists and Socrates. The Sophistic amalgam of personal success, lust and power is constantly interrogated by an interlocutor in an endless plight to reveal Sophistic ignorance, fruitless desires and the right to universal justice. MacIntyre identifies the codes of both parties, and further complements the debate with historic examples to conclude the social success (or lack thereof) and persuasion of both sides. MacIntyre begins by outlining the general amalgam of Sophistic theory: success. The aretà © (virtue) of a Sophist is to be a successful citizen through conforming to the†¦show more content†¦He then reasons that the Sophists believe in a non-moral conventional man; a Homeric persona who is shifted from one era of social acceptance to another (17). MacIntyre also disputes the criteria with which one can be â€Å"natural† and offers the second flaw: To be identified as selfish, unselfish, aggressive, and so on, one must be compared to the norms of the current society; or in other words, one must be described by socially established terminology (18). Therefore, what was to be pre-social/natural actually maintains some form of social likeness to allow for the comparison (or contrast). Sophistic theology is fed only by relativism. This personal truth confuses the difference between philosophy and the actions of a hypothetical natural man. Philosophy, being the quest for the universal truth, involves the philosopher remaining outside of society, yet fully understanding and questioning the social order. However, Sophism fails to distinguish the difference between this philosophical â€Å"standing out† from the way a natural man would act. MacIntyre follows up with the portrayal in Thrasymachean guise, â€Å"The wolf has to wear the sheep’s clothing of the conventional moral values† (18). Sophism accepts this con man behaviour to be moral, although the motives are solely power and pleasure. With this, MacIntyre reveals that the rhetoric of the Sophist must appease the interests of the public. Socrates’ perspectives inShow MoreRelatedLadder1385 Words   |  6 Pagesshow how ones â€Å"beliefs, accurate or not, affect quality of care received, and the importance of health care providers to dispel any misconceptions a patient may possibly have. The subject in this case study â€Å"Mia† jumped to the wrong conclusions. This short paper will use the Ladder of Influence, otherwise known as the â€Å"process of abstraction† to see how she (Mia) jumped to the wrong conclusion of being not wanted, or a burden in the ER came about and how it could have been prevented by putting focusRead MoreMerriem Webster Dictionary Defines Ethics As The Principles915 Words   |  4 PagesMerriem Webster Dictionary defines ethics as the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group; a guiding philosophy (Ethic). Moral concepts governing a groups behavior cannot â€Å"be examined and understood apart from their history (MacIntyre, 1). Behavior that is seen as go od and bad is depicted in ancient literature and poems. Iliad occurs during the Trojan War, circa 500 BC. Socrates (circa 470/469 – 399 BC) is known as one of the founders of modern philosophy; the Socratic Method isRead MoreAnalyzing The Vision Of Short Term Lenders Essay954 Words   |  4 Pagesbeen an increase of payday loans and short-term lenders representing sub-prime lending bussinesses. These institutions specialize in offering fast cash and fast loans, both of which are strongly advertised via different media platforms such as a website, television, andradio stations(Aldohni, 2013). Desperate consumers seeking these short-term financial solutions often end up with long-term financial disasters. The promise of easy credit without a credit history does not come cheap;sometimes costingRead MoreThe Ethics Of Business Ethics757 Words   |  4 Pagesdeciding what to do in certain situations, ethics is what guides an individual to act in a way that is good, or right. Th ose involved in business settings apply ethics to business situations, known as business ethics. It is expected of businesses, small and large, to follow business ethics. There is a particular framework businesses are to follow. However, the reoccurring news headlines of poor business ethics prove differently. Poor business ethics include bribery, corporate accounting scandalsRead MoreAldo Leopold’S Essay â€Å"The Land Ethic† Was Published In1122 Words   |  5 PagesAldo Leopold’s essay â€Å"The Land Ethic† was published in A Sand County Almanac. The short paper confronts the imperfections in the most common approaches in preserving the environment. Leopold’s answer is to develop a new branch of environmental ethics to model humanity’s ever-changing relationship with the environment. Leopold observantly describes the history of ethics, the meaning of community with the land and why it’s appropriate to do so. Toward the end of the essay – as the reader is ready forRead MoreKant s Impact On Ethics1389 Words   |  6 Pageslate 18th century. During this enthusiastic time period, there emerged a strong belief in the ability of human reason to help understand the world and solve its numerous problems- including ethical ones. Kant’s contribution to ethics has been very substantial, and although ethics is the field he’s had the most profound impact on, Kant also spent his time working in other areas, such as metaphysics and epistemology. Metaphysics is defined as â€Å"the branch of philosophy that deals with abstract conceptsRead MoreInfluences on Ethics1031 Words   |  5 PagesInfluences on Ethics: Experience, Media and the History of Ideas Micah Gaither University of Phoenix GEN/480 January 16, 2006 Influences on Ethics: Experience, Media and the History of Ideas: It can be difficult to come up with a method of evaluating decisions and forming unbiased opinions. To understand how ethics are influenced it is important to understand (1) how ethics are formed, (2) which forces are shaping them, and (3) what is a popular method of transmission. Chapters eight andRead MoreOverview of The Responsibility Project1029 Words   |  4 Pagesdiscusses ethics and morality in a modern context. The project is linked to many electronic conversations (blogs) that highlight positive social and organizational issues through role modeling and demonstrations of social challenges of the modern global world. This work will look specifically at a short film associated with ethics and morality as it impacts organizational ethics. (Liberty Mutual Co, 2012) The website responsibility-project.libertymutual.com, links to a group of short films thatRead MoreGenerational Affects in Business Ethics Essay1597 Words   |  7 PagesBusiness Ethics We are experiencing in our work force a changing of the guard, currently there are three generational groups that make up our workforce: The Baby Boomers, Generation X, and the Millennials, who for the past few years have begun to work together. However, what we are discovering is that because of the time frame of their births and the life altering affects during those times, it has influenced the values and objectives of each of these groups, ultimately affecting their ethics and valuesRead MoreThe Ethical Issue Of Physician Assisted Suicide1580 Words   |  7 PagesIn Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle establishes that â€Å"every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good and for this reason the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim† and explains this through the dialectic of disposition, particularly between vice and virtue. In chapter four, Aristotle affirms that since â€Å"all knowledge and ev ery pursuit aims at some good†, we inherently seek the highest form which is known to both the masses