The traditional ēthos. Study on ancient ethics. Article that was expanded in the discussion with Mtr. Jaime Escalante

Abstract

The concept of ancient Ethics is related to Socrates and the Sophists. From them it passed through Plato, and reached its climax in Aristotle. No one of these theories understands ethics as a sum of advices or as group of commandments of what the others ought to do. In this sense, ancient Ethics carries out one of the requirements stated by Moore (1907), when he says: “It is not the business of the ethical philosopher to give personal advice or exhortation”.

Apart from Aristotle, Plato and Socrates, Ethics is plenty of what some scholars, like Guthrie (1984), have named ethical intellectualism; that is to say, it was retained that moral goodness was linked to wisdom, therefore with education as well. On the contrary, moral evil is the result of illiteracy, bad or defcient education. The Stagirite, on the other hand, asks himself what is the good for the individual and for the pólis. On this respect, his conclusion is that this good is the eudaimonía or the happiness, which is the human action´s end.

AKADEMOS, Año 11, Vol. 2, No 29, July-December 2017: 59-75