Philosophy
- Literally a gadfly an insect that stings and makes people to be angry. Socially it is someone who challenges people in power and upsets the status quo of the society by speaking the truth. Socrates referred to himself as a gadfly because he was always willing to speak the truth about the society even if he knew that it would hurt the image of those in power. In his defence, the truth had to be spoken and questions that the government and experts tend to over look had to be asked. This is because society is not only for the powerful, the one who are believed to be wealthy and classier but it is for everyone (Anton, 1991). During his trial he stated that he was a gadfly and he had a role to play in the society. Getting rid of him would hurt, the government and those whom he spoke against, more than letting him be.
- Akrasia is the ability to know what is good but not acting upon that. It is a state of weakness in the mind, as one may fear or feel intimidated to act in his best interest and decides to act otherwise. According to Socrates in develops from ignorance of what is good or not. According to Aristotle there two things that are involved while coming to a decision to act. Opinions which are what the mind thinks about a situation and appétit ions that are desires of the body. These two may differ at times and when they do one is happy because they are in a dilemma (Anton, 1991). Our minds always know what is morally right and should always lead to fulfilling the body desires in a morally accepted way. This leads to the greatest happiness.
- Utilitarianism is a concept that states that any action taken should be to ensure that everybody achieves the highest level to utility. This will ultimately lead to the greatest happiness. Greatest happiness is what Mills termed as something that can be seen and heard. This means that no one is oppressed and lacks, while others have excess (Harsanyi, 1977). Greatest happiness is when all the people are happy with what is going on.
There are two types of pleasures, the higher and the lower pleasures. The intellect and internal pleasures are higher than the physical and external pleasures in life. Happiness is achieved when people know that they have all been satisfied by the prevailing conditions other than when they have a lot to themselves and others do not. This means that external satisfaction may not mean happiness if internal satisfaction is not attained.
- Categorical imperative is an ethical code that is based on objective rules in the world. These are the codes that everyone is expected to live by. It is based on the premise that people can be able to reason well in the same way and come to the same conclusion without coercion. There is a code that should morally oblige us to act and live in a certain way that does not lead to hurting and injuring anybody else at the same time (Kant, 1785). Basic to this belief is in one’s self governance, this means that people should be allowed to freely and willingly choose the actions they would like to take, however they should have in mind the moral code of the society.
Lying is not allowed in this case regardless of the situation at hand. This is because if everybody lied to protect themselves or their loved ones then this world would not be bearable as nothing would be true.
- Freedom is our responsibility as human beings, in every situation we have different choices to pick from and when we choose to pick that is still a choice. Therefore the fact that human beings exists then so does freedom (Hooker, 2002). Human beings are not objects to be used by gods to bring order in the society, they have their own decisions to make and are allowed to choose but always be ready to accept the consequences. Our actions are constantly used to define who we are rather than our words, we cannot therefore conclude that someone is gracious simply because they claim so, but because in a choice between giving and not giving, that person chooses to give again and again without getting tired.
- Happiness according to Aristotle is when one is living well. This is why most people try to live well by improving their lives by acquiring a position in the society and wealth as well. If these things were not meant to bring us happiness then no one would bother with them. Human beings are rational beings and will always use their higher pleasures which are intrinsic in making decisions unlike animals that reply to their physical pleasures.
Happiness according to Kant is when the people have a moral code that they are following. Happiness in human beings is achieved when people reason in the same way and come to the same conclusion, this means no one is oppressed and deprived of their better judgement. If we all agree on something and we all follow it then the world will be a happy place.
- Aristotle believes that morality stems from within ourselves, this is because people have their minds that will always reason in a way that it does not contrast the moral code of the society. We are higher in the evolution tree because we can be able to delay or completely reject our physical pleasures and abide by law.
Mill believes we can achieve happiness for all people by engaging in acts that are well agreed upon by all and do not oppress anybody. This is democracy at its highest level (Bayles, 1968). Morality is when no one acts only for his best interest but for the interest of everybody else.
Kant believes that there should a moral code that obliges people to act in the best interest of the society. This means that one should determine their own actions and govern themselves. I completely agree with Kant as it all starts with one person, you and me. We cannot expect the world to have morality yet we are not able to govern an control our actions towards the moral code we have in the society.
References
Bayles, M. D. (1968). An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation (Dover Philosophical Classics). Dover Publications Inc.
Harsanyi, John C. (Fall 1977). "Motive Utilitarianism". Morality and the theory of rational behaviour, Social Research 44 (3).
Hooker, Brad (October 2002). Ideal Code, Real World: A Rule-Consequentiality Theory of Morality. Clarendon Press.
Kant, Immanuel; translated by James W. Ellington [1785] (1993). Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals 3rd ed. Hackett Press
Anton, J.P. & A. Preus (eds.). (1991), Aristotle's Ethics: Essays in Ancient Greek Philosophy, vol. 5. Albany: The State University of New York Press,
