What could be considered a good foundation, for a theory of ethics?

Question

I think Aristotelian ethics are the best foundation I know of. However I'm asking about a scientific or philosophical way of determining sound ethical principles.

Answer 1

Depends.
A logical ethical system must begin with a premise and work to support that premise.
Pick your core belief ... a judgemental supreme being, or karma, or enlightened self-interest, or self-actualization, or whatever ... and establish your ethics towards that belief.
Thus, an ethical response to someone kicking you in the shins would vary considerably, depending on your core premise: retaliate in kind, sympathize, run away, or kill, or what have you.
This is not a simple process, naturally, and what seems to me to be a good foundation may not work for you.
Suppose (being self-centered) I were to tell you that a good foundation for your theory of personal ethics would be "Help Grendle Achieve Wealth"? Would you think that this was a worthy goal upon which to found your ethical theory? I think not.
Similarly, if someone tells you, "Come thou and devote your life and all your wealth and effort to my belief system", you should take a moment to consider if this is really in keeping with your core premise.
So to determine that good foundation, first, find that chewy nougat center to your beliefs, whether it is a deity, or a sociological conviction, or a scientific premise or whatever. Then go from there.
I know this isn't a hard and fast answer, but any such answer should be suspect.

Answer 2

I've often thought that Aristotle's 'Golden Mean' suffered from Zeno's Paradox rather more than physics ever did. In other words, if your goal is to be moderate, should you be moderate about being moderate? Wouldn't that mean you're NOT being moderate? A mess.

Which just leaves the other major part of Aristotle's ethical derivation - that of the greatest good. But Aristotle interestingly assumed that there must be some single good which all other goods served and which in turn served no other goods... a sort of 'prime mover' of ethics. I'm not willing to make that kind of an assumption, myself.

Consider a toolbox. There is no magic single tool that is intrinsically better for all purposes than any other tools. Different jobs are best served by different, specialized instruments. It is quite possible that ethics is no different... which would also explain why so many different societies feel they are best served by so many different rules.

Some of Aristotle's approaches do seem valid, however. I think the difference between an intrinsic and an instrumental good is worth noting. And even if you can't boil everything down to just ONE good, it is probably good (ha ha) to simplify it as much as possible for ease of use if for no other reason. The exact approach you'll take to find these goods will be up to you... many are the philosophers who've spent whole books trying to work that out.

I think it's well worth making the effort to figure out such things for yourself. I came up with six priniciples when I spent some time on such a labour, myself. Good luck!

Answer 3

For me, as a catholic believer, science or philosophy are not enough good for a foundation of the ethics.

Catholic religion ethics foundations are besides religious matters Aristotelian and Platonic principles modified for all their history (for Saint Thomas of Aquino, and a ton of others) to fit in the God salvation plan.

Well most religions are foundation of an ethical theory for their believers.

Most laws and ethics of today world are interpretation more or less similar to religious principles, even that of murder or rape crimes.

Answer 4

To me there are three basic principles in the formation of ethics:

1. Do no deliberate harm to others.
2. Recognize that you have a place in society and if your work does not serve a greater good, then it is not useful to that society.
3. If you must hide your motives, then they are not good motives.

Answer 5

I'd suggest taking a look at the work of Levinas, who built an ethics out of phenomenology.

Answer 6

Acknowledge and respect the boundaries between your preferences and self-interests and those of every other human being.

Don't allow your own certainties intrude into the physical lives of others.

Answer 7

a good one was propsed by thomas nagel in the possibility of altruism

Answer 8

Gee I dunno, but "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" sounds like a good place to start. For those who are into S and M, of course, this statement has a somewhat darker meaning.

Answer 9

your fellow man is your equal