The History of Moral and Social
Philosophy: A Professional
Perspective
RAMIR M. MOJECA DR. THELMA E. ROYECA
Discussant Professor
• Introduction
This presentation will provide an overview of the
history of moral and social philosophy from a
professional perspective. We will explore the evolution
of the concepts and theoretical frameworks
underpinning this field by examining their
development across time.
• The Pre-Socratics
The Pre-Socratics were one of the earliest philosophical
schools of thought in Ancient Greece, succeeding the
mythological stories that traditionally informed the
collective consciousness. They sought to find evidence
for their theories in the physical world, emphasizing the
importance of observation and experimentation. This
foundational approach is part of the legacy that they
would leave behind to modern moral and social
philosophy.
• Socrates
Rejecting Atheism
Socrates asserted the existence of deities, rejecting the
atheism of his predecessors. He stressed the importance
of moral virtue and the inseparable relationship
between moral behaviour and happiness, believing
these to be fundamental to living a good life. Through
his teachings, Socrates sought to educate his students
on the legal and political governance of Athens, as well
as its value systems and ethical beliefs.
• Plato
Plato's Philosophy
One of the greatest atheistic philosophers of the
Western tradition, Plato advanced the Socratic belief
that a life of virtue was key to achieving happiness. He
argued in favour of using logic and reason as necessary
roadmaps to interpreting reality, and expressed the
belief that knowledge was most often acquired through
a process of inquiry and dialogue. Plato also expressed
the understanding that truth is subjective and can
therefore only be understood from one’s own
perspective.
• Aristotle
Aristotle
The prolific Greek philosopher, Aristotle, expressed
similar views to Plato but was a proponent of a more
holistic approach to understanding truth. Rather than
relying solely on reason and logic, Aristotle believed that
virtue and morality should be based on the balance of
reason, emotion and the individual’s actions and
preferences. He argued that a holistic understanding of
truth could be obtained by considering both intangible
and tangible aspects of reality.
• The Hellenistic Schools
The Hellenistic schools were influential in further
developing and codifying the ethical teachings of
Aristotle to form what is now known as Moral and Social
Philosophy. Here, the division between reason and
emotion was given more prominence. They advocated
for the cultivation of virtues in order to both understand
a sense of morality and form a cohesive society. This was
also the first time that philosophy was used to develop
a political and social ideal.
• The Stoics
The Stoics were a critical part in the development of a
cohesive moral and social philosophy. Through rigorous
analysis, they explored the idea of virtuous conduct on
both a personal and communal level. By promoting
temperance, courage, wisdom and justice, they sought
to make the world a better place. This belief was so
powerful, in fact, that it inspired the likes of Roman
Emperor Marcus Aurelius to act on the advice of such
teachings.
• The Epicureans
The Epicureans followed up with an optimism towards
life, one that focused on pleasure-seeking and
avoidance of unnecessary pain. They deemed it
important to approach life with a sense of hierarchy and
moderation, so as to enable a person’s ability to seek
out genuine purpose and sovereign one’s eternal affairs.
This implies that we find our disposition different from
the ways of the Stoics, because we are safely armed
with choices and discretion.
• The Roman Stoics
The Stoics on the other hand paid closer attention
towards the task of living a good and sincere life,
looking to reshape it within the parameters of duty,
responsibility, and human goodness. They argued that
we can only be truly free, if our lives are well-balanced
and appropriately harmonized with the duties and
obligations that are part of the day-to-day.
Professionalism necessitates an adherence to the core
principles of moral and social philosophy that is rooted
in the Stoic School of thought.
• Cicero
The Greek philosopher Cicero, who was one of the
leading Stoics of his time, was an influential advocate of
professionalism, emphasizing the need to adhere to our
duties and obligations, while still striving to develop a
well-balanced attitude in our work and daily lives.
His teachings on facing the challenge of balancing our
inner need for harmony and joy with professional
responsibilities continue to shape our present
understanding of moral and social philosophy.
• The Medieval Period
Exploring the middle ages, we see professional ethics in
terms of the feudal system, where lords had to maintain
an ethical loyalty to their vassals, while at the same
time, the vassals were bound to their lord. Both the
vassal and lord had to keep to the codes of chivalry and
honor. Alongside this, the institutions of the Church and
the law also taught people about moral responsibility.
• Augustine
The emergence of the Augustine is a critical point in
understanding moral and social philosophy. He
promoted the existence of a moral law that comes
from God, claiming that it is the foundation of morality.
He also argued that a human morality must be based
on faith, not on reason alone.
• Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas' contribution to moral and social
philosophy was the concept of ‘natural law’. He argued
that natural laws such as justice were the basis of
morality and were established by God, and that they
form the basis of social order which should remain
consistent with moral principles. He also argued that
reason could be used to understand moral principles.
• The Modern Period
In the modern period, moral and social philosophy
developed further through the works of thinkers such as
Immanuel Kant, John Stuart Mill, Friedrich Nietzsche, and
John Rawls. These philosophers proposed new theories
based on the idea of autonomy and the respect of
individual rights, as well as new approaches to ethics,
such as utilitarianism. Furthermore, they provided new
perspectives on social justice, democracy, and the
importance of public opinion and political participation.
• Descartes
Discourse on Method
Descartes was a great thinker from the modern period.
He was a rationalist who subscribed to the concept of
innate ideas. His works on ethical and social philosophy
focused on his concept of Cartesian Dualism that argued
for the mind-body separation. He was well-known for
the procedure of “method of doubt” which he used to
build a supposition that the world exists and can be
known through the use of scientific method.
• Spinoza
Spinoza was another famous thinker from the modern
period who developed the concept of ‘pantheism’,
which attributes all reality to one perfect and eternal
substance or ‘God, nature and mind’. He explained it
philosophically with his method of ‘rationalism’ where
he believed that emotions are important because they
form beliefs and can affect our decisions. His works on
ethical and social philosophy focused on his
understanding of human nature and claims of the
benefits of true freedom and its purpose in life.
• Leibniz
Leibniz’s Philosophy
Leibniz is renowned for his works on ‘optimalism’. He
believed in the power of reason over emotion and held
that knowledge of the natural world can only be
obtained through intuition and deduction. His works on
morality and social justice laid the foundation for the
study of ethics and law. His most typical works were in
the area of logic, epistemology, and philosophy of
science.
• Locke
John Locke
John Locke was a 17th Century English philosopher and
physician, who was among the core members of the
Enlightenment movement. His works on moral
philosophy and social justice are still studied today. He
was also an early adherent of empiricism, believing that
only experience can lead to knowledge. Locke’s works
were instrumental in developing the concept of natural
rights and inspiring the Founding Fathers of the United
States to build a system of government around the
principles of democracy and freedom.
• Hume
David Hume
David Hume was an 18th Century Scottish philosopher
who also contributed to the Enlightenment movement.
His two-volume Treatise on Human Nature outlined his
moral and social philosophy based on empiricism and
the idea that the scientific method is the best way to
understand the world. This work was the beginning of a
modern view of morality and the individual, and the
philosophical foundations of many of our current
societies.
• Kant
Kant and Deontology
Immanuel Kant was an influential German philosopher
who developed a moral system known as deontology. It
is based on rational principles, and stresses the idea of
taking responsibility for one's actions. Kant argued that
morality is derived from reason rather than emotion, and
moral decisions should be made by following a
"categorical imperative". The categorical imperative
serves as a guide to thoughtful decision-making, rather
than basing decisions on intuition or feeling.
• Hegel
Hegel and Dialectics
George Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel was a philosopher who
admired Kant, but believed that moral and social
philosophies must take into account the evolving nature
of the world. He developed a ‘dialectical’ approach
which involved identifying and analysing universal truth
then proposing solutions. Hegel's approach emphasised
the role of history, taking into account how morality
evolved over time and how it changes in relation to
society. This was a major influence on future social and
moral philosophers.
• Marx
Karl Marx and Dialectics
Karl Marx greatly expanded on Hegel's work, looking
particularly at the way politics interacted with moral
philosophy. Marx analysed the relationship between
economics, social structures and the values of a society.
He also developed a dialectical materialism that mapped
out how economic forces and social structures shape
moral and social thought. The work of Marx continues to
be influential in moral and social philosophies today.
•
Modern Connections
Modern moral and social philosophers owe a debt to
Marx and Hegel. Their work has led to ongoing
developments in philosophical inquiry into the ethical
and moral dimensions of various phenomena within
society. It is with this dedication to research and critical
thinking that many of the modern philosophical debates
take shape. Moreover, the insights of Marx and Hegel
have also enabled us to make important social and
economic changes.
