Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) attended the University of Gottingen where he studied metaphysics and psychology. It was here that he first found philosophical inspiration in the works of Plato and Immanuel Kant, two men who would have significant influence on Schopenhauer's work. One of the best known nineteenth-century philosophers, Schopenhauer published «The Basis of Morality» in 1839 as a response to a question posed by the Royal Danis ...
"Thus Spake Zarathustra" is the fictional account of the travels and teachings of Zarathustra, known also as Zoraster, the Persian prophet and founder of Zoroastrianism. What Nietzsche is portraying here is a new or different Zarathustra though, one with a morality alternate to that of the traditional. Utilizing a unique and experimental style, «Thus Spake Zarathustra» contains the famous Nietzsche phrase «God is dead» and is one of Nietzsc ...
First published in 1751, “An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals” by David Hume, the Scottish Enlightenment philosopher, was the enquiry subsequent to his 1748 work “Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding” and is often referred to as “the second Enquiry”. In Hume’s own opinion it was the very best of all his writings. In “An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals”, Hume expands upon his ideas of morality first discussed in his earli ...
“Ethics” is the most famous work of Benedict de Spinoza, who is considered one of the great rationalists of 17th-century philosophy. Spinoza was born of Jewish and Portuguese ancestry in 1632 and lived a simple life in Amsterdam as an optical lens grinder. His greatest fame came about when “Ethics,” a collection of several of his philosophical works, was published anonymously by his close friends in 1677 shortly after Spinoza’s untimely death at ...
Written in 1759 by Scottish philosopher and political economist Adam Smith, “The Theory of Moral Sentiments” provides much of the foundation for the ideas in his later works, most notably in “The Wealth of Nations.” Through this initial text, Smith expresses his general system of morals, exploring the propriety of action, reward and punishment, sense of duty, and the effect of numerous factors on moral sentiment. In so doing, Smith devised innov ...
Written in 1759 by Scottish philosopher and political economist Adam Smith, “The Theory of Moral Sentiments” provides much of the foundation for the ideas in his later works, most notably in “The Wealth of Nations.” Through this initial text, Smith expresses his general system of morals, exploring the propriety of action, reward and punishment, sense of duty, and the effect of numerous factors on moral sentiment. In so doing, Smith devised innov ...
German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche was one the most controversial figures of the 19th century. His evocative writings on religion, morality, culture, philosophy, and science were often polemic attacks against the established views of his time. First published in 1887, “The Genealogy of Morals,” is a work which follows and expands upon the principles of his previous works, “Thus Spoke Zarathustra” and “Beyond Good and Evil.” In a preface and ...
Composed of ten books and based upon Aristotle’s own notes from his lectures at the Lyceum, “Nicomachean Ethics” holds a pre-eminent place amongst the ancient treatises on moral philosophy. As opposed to other pre-Socratic works, “Nicomachean Ethics” moves beyond the purely theoretical analysis of moral philosophy by examining its practical application. Aristotelian ethics is concerned with how an individual should best live their life and at it ...
