South 고등학교 2학년 Ethics and Thought

1. Eastern ethical thought

Confucius, Mencius, Xunzi, Neo-Confucianism · Laozi and Zhuangzi · Buddhist ethics

• Confucianism – Confucianism is a way of living taught by Confucius (about 551–479 BCE, China). Its heart is ren (kindness toward others) and li (respectful behaviour). People grow good by practising these in five key relationships: ruler and citizen, parent and child, spouses, elders and youngers, and friends. Mencius said human nature is born good, like a sprout; Xunzi said it needs shaping by learning and rules. Neo-Confucianism (about 11th–12th century) joined these ideas with a theory of the universe and self-improvement.
• Taoism (Daoism) – Taoism is an old Chinese way of thinking about living in harmony with the Dao, 'the Way' of nature. Laozi (the Tao Te Ching) taught softness, simplicity and wu wei, acting without forcing. Zhuangzi added stories showing that ideas like big and small, good and bad depend on your point of view, so we should be free and flexible. Yin and yang show how opposites balance each other. Today wu wei is read as working with nature and with our own limits instead of fighting them.

2. Korean ethical thought

Wonhyo, Uicheon, Jinul · Toegye and Yulgok · Nammyeong, Hagok, Dasan

Coming soon

3. Western ethical thought

Socrates, Plato, Aristotle · Epicureans and Stoics · Christian ethics of love · Deontology and consequentialism · Existentialism, pragmatism, moral origins

• Virtue Ethics: Becoming a Good Person – Virtue ethics asks "What kind of person should I be?" rather than only "Which rule should I follow?". An action has an intention, means, the act and consequences. Socrates taught that virtue is knowledge. Plato linked the three parts of the soul (reason, spirit, desire) to four cardinal virtues: wisdom, courage, moderation and justice. Aristotle said every aim points to a final end, eudaimonia (living well), and that each moral virtue is a golden mean between two vices, learned by habit and guided by practical wisdom.
• Ethics: How to Decide What Is Right – Ethics (moral philosophy) asks what we ought to do and why. Values such as honesty, kindness, fairness and respect guide choices. Three main theories help: consequences (utilitarianism, Bentham and Mill: most good for most people), duty (Kant: act on rules you could want everyone to follow; treat people as ends, never only as means) and virtue (Aristotle: build good character; virtue is the mean between extremes). Conscience is our inner sense of right and wrong. Freedom brings responsibility. Meta-ethics asks what "good" means and whether values are universal or relative. Applied ethics deals with the environment, animals, work, friendship and peace.

4. Social thought

Views of the state · Freedom, rights and republicanism · Alternatives to representative democracy · Capitalism and its critics

• Political Philosophy: The State, Power and Justice – Political philosophy asks big questions about living together: Why do we need a state? What makes power rightful (legitimate)? What is justice? How much freedom and equality should people have? Social contract thinkers (Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau) explain the state as an agreement. Plato and Aristotle described the ideal state and the forms of government; Cicero saw the republic as the people's shared property under law. Rawls, Mill and thinkers from many traditions (Confucius, Kautilya, Ubuntu) help us weigh liberty, equality, property and community.
• Democracy: Principles, Elections and Checks on Power – Democracy means the people hold the final power. It rests on a few principles: political equality, majority rule with minority rights, the rule of law, free and fair elections, and limits on power. People can decide directly (referendums) or through elected representatives. The voting rule (FPTP or proportional representation) changes who wins seats. A constitution splits power between the legislature, executive and judiciary so each can check the others. Citizens keep working between elections through media, pressure groups, courts, petitions and protest, and good policy is judged by clear evidence.
• Economic Systems: Who Decides What, How and for Whom? – Every society has limited resources and must decide what to produce, how to produce it and for whom. A traditional economy answers by custom, a market economy by prices and private choice, and a command (planned) economy by a government plan. Capitalism is built on private ownership and markets; socialism on shared or state ownership and planning. Real countries are mixed economies: markets make most goods while the government provides public services, rules and support.