Self – Knowledge http :// youtube/watch?v=VU_rTX23V7Q

1. Self – Knowledgehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU_rTX23V7Q

2. Socrates • Self-knowledge was considered necessary for success and inherently an essential good • Equated knowledge with virtue, and virtue with happiness • A self aware person will act completely within their capabilities to their pinnacle

3. Socrates • People will naturally do what is good, if they know what is right. • The true wise man will know what is right, do what is good and therefore be happy. • Evil or bad actions are the result of ignorance. • An ignorant person will flounder and encounter difficulties.

4. Aristotle • Posited a system that may be termed : • “self realizationism.”

5. Aristotle • Self realization, the awareness of one’s nature and the development of one’s talents, is the surest path to happiness • When a person acts in accordance with their nature and realizes their full potential they will do good and be content • A person is not a full person until they realize their potential

6. Cyrenaic Hedonism

7. Hedonism • Pleasure is the only good • States that the principle ethic is maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain. • Advocating the indulgence of even momentary desire • Self gratification regardless of the pain and expense to others

8. Hedonism • Eat, drink and be merry • Fleeting desires should be indulged for fear the opportunity may never come again • Little or no concern for the future, the present dominates the pursuit for immediate pleasure

9. Epicureanism • Rejected the extremism of Cyrenaics believing some pleasures and indulgences to be detrimental to the human being. • Believed that indiscriminate indulgences sometimes leads to negative consequences

10. Epicureanism • Excessive indulgence can be destructive and lead to pain • The “greater good” to Epicurus was prudence, exercised through moderation and caution • Living was essentially good; death was not to be feared. • Fear was considered the source of most unhappiness • If there was an after life and immortality, then the fear of death would be irrational

11. Epictetus • This Stoic philosopher posited that the greatest good was contentment and serenity • Peace of mind was of the highest value • Temperance

12. Epictetus • Self mastery over one’s desires and emotions lead to spiritual peace • Freedom from material attachment is necessary • Accept things that cannot be changed • Difficult problems in life should not be avoided but rather embraced

13. Epictetus • Do not fear death, because we return to God • Spiritual exercises are needed for the health of the spirit • Sex and sexual desire are to be avoided as the greatest threat to integrity and equilibrium of man’s mind. • Abstinence is highly desirable, remaining abstinent in the face of temptation was a victory for which man could be proud

14. Ethics • Metaethics • Normative ethics • Applied ethics

15. Metaethics • Investigates where our principles come from, and what they mean • The will of God • They come from universal truths • The role of reason in ethical judgments

16. Normative Ethics • Takes on a more practical task, which is to arrive at moral standards that regulate right and wrong conduct • Duties that we should follow • This may involve articulating good habits that we should acquire • The golden rule, cardinal virtues, good habits of character • Consequences of our behavior on others

17. Applied Ethics • Involves examining specific controversial issues such as abortion • By using the tools provided by metaethics and normative ethics, applied ethics tries to resolve these controversial issues • Issues need to be controversial in the sense that there are significant groups of people for both and against the issue at hand • It must be a distinctly moral issue