ethical theories Quotes

The moral cannibalism of all hedonist and altruist doctrines lies in the premise that the happiness of one man necessitates the injury of another.

Philosophy is the opposite of fairy tales

As to ethics, unfortunately, we are still at sea. We never did have any popular base for what little ethics we knew, except the religious theories, and now that our faith is shaken in those theories we cannot account for ethics at all. It is no wonder we behave badly, we are literally ignorant of the laws of ethics, which is the simplest of sciences, the most necessary, the most continuously needed. The childish misconduct of our 'revolted youth' is quite equaled by that of older people, and neither young nor old seem to have any understanding of the reasons why conduct is 'good' or 'bad.

Philosophy's work is finding the shortest path between two points.

Ethical metaphysics is fundamentally an attempt, however disguised, to give legislative force to our own wishes.

Philosophy is the thoughts of men about human thinking, reasoning and imagining, and the real values in human existence.

Philosophy is man’s expression of curiosity about everything and his attempt to make sense of the world primarily through his intellect.

Ethics occupies a central place in philosophy because it is concerned with sin, with the origin of good and evil and with moral valuations. And since these problems have a universal significance, the sphere of ethics is wider than is generally supposed. It deals with meaning and value and its province is the world in which the distinction between good and evil is drawn, evaluations are made and meaning is sought.

All moral laws are merely statements that certain kinds of actions will have good effects.

Morality must be the heart of our existence, if it is to be what it wants to be for us. The highest form of philosophy is ethics. Thus all philosophy begins with "I am." The highest statement of cognition must be an expression of that fact which is the means and ground for all cognition, namely, the goal of the I.

Philosophy, the love of Wisdom, is at the very bottom defence against the incomprehensible.

There is a difference between happiness, the supreme good, and the final end or goal toward which our actions ought to tend. For happiness is not the supreme good, but presupposes it, being the contentment or satisfaction of the mind which results from possessing it.

Philosophy, as the modern world knows it, is only intellectual club-swinging.

So, when on one side you hoist in Locke's head, you go over that way; but now, on the other side, hoist in Kant's and you come back again; but in very poor plight. Thus, some minds for ever keep trimming boat. Oh, ye foolish! throw all these thunder-heads overboard, and then you will float light and right.

I conceive ethics as a branch of psychology.

Born and nurtured when the human being first asked questions about the reason for things and their purpose, philosophy shows in different modes and forms that the desire for truth is part of human nature itself.

Philosophy, certainly, is some account of truths the fragments and very insignificant parts of which man will practice in this workshop; truths infinite and in harmony with infinity, in respect to which the very objects and ends of the so-called practical philosopher will be mere propositions, like the rest.

Most people affirm pleasure to be the good, but the finer sort of wits say it is knowledge.

Philosophy fulfills the need to create for ourselves a single and complete concept of the world and of life.

I can only say that, while my own opinions as to ethics do not satisfy me, other people's satisfy me still less.

To look for a single general theory of how to decide the right thing to do is like looking for a single theory of how to decide what to believe.

Different ‘philosophies’ represent nothing but methods of evaluation, which may lead to empirical mis-evaluation if science and empirical facts are disregarded.

It is always incorrect to assume you can know what someone's moral convictions are based on their philosophical theories.

We live in a war of two antagonistic ethical philosophies, the ethical policy taught in the books and schools, and the success policy.

Leave your theories. All theories, you see, even those of virtue, are bad, foolish, mischievous.