The Curious Gadfly

1. The Cyrenaic School: Immediate Joy Founded by Aristippus , this school practiced an extreme form of Hedonism (the belief that pleasure is the highest good). Key Beliefs The Present Moment: Only the pleasure you feel right now matters. Don't worry about the past or the future. Sensual Pleasure: They valued physical enjoyments, such as delicious food, touch, and physical comfort. Intensity: A short, intense burst of pleasure is better than a long, mild one. Example: A Cyrenaic would eat a rich, heavy dessert because it tastes amazing now, even if it causes a stomach ache later. 2. Epicureanism: Refined Peace Epicurus also believed in pleasure, but he was much more cautious. He felt that the best life was one of moderation and calm . Active vs. Passive Pleasure Active Pleasure: The excitement of satisfying a desire (like eating a feast). Aristippus loved this. Passive Pleasure: The state of being satisfied a...

  1. What is Deontology? The word comes from the Greek Deon (duty) and Logos (study). It literally means "the study of duty." In this branch of ethics, we don't ask, "What will happen if I do this?" Instead, we ask, "Is this action my duty?" 2. The Central Idea An action is right or wrong based on whether it follows moral rules . Rules Matter Most: Even if a "bad" action (like lying) produces a "good" result (like making someone feel better), it is still morally wrong. Results Don't Matter: Doing your duty is right, even if it leads to a difficult or sad outcome.   4. Where Does the "Moral Law" Come From? Deontologists agree we must follow the law, but they disagree on where that law starts. Here are the five main sources: Divine Law: Rules come from God . You obey because God commanded it (e.g., "Do not steal"). Rational Law (Kant): Rul...

  1. What is Moral Order? Moral order is the system of values, duties, and rules that guide how we act. Every day, we judge actions: "Cheating is wrong" or "Helping others is good." These judgments prove that we believe there is a real difference between what we ought to do and what we should not do. 2. Where Does This Order Come From? There are three main ways to explain the foundation of morality: A. The Religious Answer Many believe morality comes from God . In this view, stealing is wrong because God forbids it. This gives rules authority and makes them universal. However, philosophy looks for a rational foundation that everyone—believer or not—can understand. B. The Existentialist Answer (Jean-Paul Sartre) Sartre argues that there is no foundation for morality. No God, No Rules: Since there is no divine lawgiver, there are no objective rules. Existence Precedes Essence: Humans are born without a "built-in"...

  Value The word Value comes from the Latin  valere , meaning "to be strong" or "to be worth something." 1. Value as Worth Something is valuable if it is useful or meaningful. Example:  Clean water is valuable because it sustains life. 2. Value as Excellence Something is valuable if it is admired or follows a high standard. Example:  We value courage in a soldier or honesty in a teacher. 3. Value vs. Disvalue Value:  Promotes life and growth (e.g., Peace). Disvalue:  Harms or destroys (e.g., Violence).  Six Key Definitions of Value 1. Value as Excellence, Usefulness, or Desirability (Webster) Value is not the object itself, but a quality: Excellence:  A teacher who inspires. Usefulness:  A medicine that cures. Desirability:  Something we want, like happiness. 2. Value as an "Object of Interest" (R.B. Perry) Something becomes valuable simply because someo...

In ethics, an act is perfectly voluntary when a person has full knowledge of what they are doing and gives full consent to it. If knowledge or consent is lacking, responsibility changes. These influences are called modifiers of responsibility . There are five main modifiers that can reduce how "human" or "voluntary" an act is: 1. Ignorance (Affecting Knowledge) Ignorance is the lack of knowledge in someone capable of having it. There are two main types: Invincible Ignorance: This is ignorance that cannot be overcome. The person either doesn't realize they are ignorant or cannot find the truth despite trying. Responsibility: It destroys responsibility. If you truly cannot know something, you cannot be blamed for it. Vincible Ignorance: This is ignorance that could be overcome with reasonable effort. A person might stay ignorant out of laziness or because they don't care. Responsibility: It does not destroy responsibility but lessens it. You are respo...

 Man's actions taken collectively are called behavior or conduct. Behaviour is more of a psychological word and is applied even to animals, whereas conduct has a strictly ethical meaning and is exclusively human. Conduct consists of acts, but not of all or any acts a man can perform' It is customary to all the kind of acts constituting conduct human acts, Making this expression a technical term with an exact and restricted meaning' St. Thomas puts it as follows: of actions done by man those alone are properly called human which are proper to man as man.  Now man differs from irrational animals in this that he is master of his actions. wherefore those actions alone are properly called human of which man is master. Now man is master of his actions through his reason and will, whence too the free will is defined as the faculty will and reason. Therefore those actions are properly called human which proceed from a deliberate will. And if any other actions are found in man, the...

Ethics isn't just a set of rules found in textbooks; it is about the  character  of a person. When we call someone "ethical," we usually mean they are honest, fair, or kind. These aren't just one-time actions; they are qualities that define who they are. 1. The Meaning of "Ethos" The word  Ethics  comes from the Greek word  ethos , meaning character, custom, or habit. It describes our "moral fiber." Ethics focuses on forming a steady disposition to do the right thing, even when no one is watching. 2. Character vs. Action Returning a lost wallet because of a rule is a  moral act . Returning it because you value honesty is  ethical character . Ethics is about consistency. It’s the difference between a doctor who saves lives for fame and one who does it out of genuine compassion. The outward act is the same, but the internal motive defines the ethical value. The Origins: Ethics and Morality While used interchangeably, these terms have diff...

  Postmodernism is a movement in philosophy, art, literature, and culture that challenges the idea of absolute truths. It suggests that reality is not fixed but is instead shaped by individual perspectives, interpretations, and social contexts. Postmodernism became popular in the mid-20th century and was influenced by thinkers like Jacques Derrida, Jean-François Lyotard, and Michel Foucault. It questions the idea that history, science, or morality can provide objective truths. Before postmodernism, there was modernism , which emphasized reason, science, and progress. Modernist thinkers believed that human beings could discover absolute truths through logic and structured knowledge. Some scholars argue that postmodernism is not a complete break from modernism but rather an extension of it. Others claim it is a rejection of modernist ideas. Key Features of Postmodernism as a Movement Rejection of Absolutes:  Postmodernism fundamentally denies the existence of abso...