History - Civilisation

ꕤ History Civilisation Earliest Primary (Pristine) States Mesopotamia ca. 3700 BC Egypt ca. 3300 BC Indus Valley ca. 2500 BC India ca. 1700 BC China ca. 1600 BC Directly or indirectly fostered emergence of secondary states via interaction with less developed neighbours trade warfare migration general ideological influence ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- One of major milestones in evolution of polities / societies is development of states, as follows: large-scale populous politically centralised socially stratified polities/societies governed by powerful rulers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_in_the_11th_century_BC polity (pl. polities) 1. form of government of a nation, state, church or organisation 2. organised society (eg nation) having specific form of govt fm. Old French, fm Late Latin: politia (the Roman government) see 'police' police fm. Old French, civil organisation fm. Late Latin, politia (the Roman govt) fm. Latin, 'the State' fm. Greek, politeia fm. polites, citizen fm. polis, city-state source | here Politeia ancient Greek used in Greek political thought esp.  Plato & Aristotle  fm. polis ('city-state') Politeia range of meanings: from 'the rights of citizens' to a 'form of government' Politeia ancient Greek government ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Aristotle 'Politics, Nicomachean Ethics, Constitution of Athens' (& other works) used Greek word for constitution (politeia) in several senses simplest, most neutral descriptive: 'arrangement of offices in a polis (state)' Source | here Aristotle: Politics 'Nicomachean Ethics' (384-322 BCE) happy life intended for man by nature: one lived in accordance with virtue 'Politics' ideal:  community of 'virtuous citizens' analysis of kinds of political community his time belief in the inferiority of women approval of slavery describes role that politics & political community must play in facilitating 'virtuous life' in citizenry sees connection re well-being of political community + citizens belief citizens must actively participate in politics for happiness and virtue analysis of what causes & prevents revolution inspiration for many contemporary theorists esp. those dissatisfied with liberal political philosophy (liberal promoted by, eg. John Locke & John Stuart Mill) http://www.iep.utm.edu/aris-pol/ Virtue Ethics one of x3 major approaches in normative ethics normative ethics - study of ethical action branch of philosophical ethics investigates set of questions arising when considering how one ought to act, morally speaking attempt to provide a general theory indicating how we ought to live involves arriving at moral standards regulating 'right' & 'wrong' conduct theories are abstract conceptual constructs that attempt to describe & explain certain phenomena normative ethical theories represent systematic attempts to describe and explain moral or ethical phenomena in normative ethical theories, possible to isolate a tripartite structure that comprises: a moral standard general moral principles particular moral principles and judgements Moral Standard moral standard provides the criteria re generation of moral principles and moral judgements ie. specifies what characteristics all moral actions must possesses utilitarian moral standard: actions are moral to the degree that consequences produce most happiness moral standards generate: general moral principles (in turn) general moral principles generate: particular moral principles and judgements MORAL STANDARD | GENERAL MORAL PRINCIPLES | PARTICULAR MORAL PRINCIPLES AND JUDGEMENTS Figure 1. The Levels In Normative Moral Theories http://www2.onu.edu/~m-dixon/handouts/ethical%20theories.html particular moral standards distinguish normative theories theories (whether scientific or ethical) are all built on basic assumptions (conceptual foundations) in science, assumptions = basic presuppositions re material universe in ethical theories, basic assumptions regarding 'moral domain' (nature, structure, applications) standards that underlie moral theories distinguished by basic assumptions re: 1. specific element (focused upon re 'moral evaluation') 2. definitions of 'good' and 'right' 3. if ethical knowledge based in experience or reason (or combination) distinguish between elements: 1. motive 2. intention 3. character 4. action 5. characteristics  (eg obligation, permissible, impermissible action) 6. consequences *motive & intention are technically subtle difference (& problematic) DUTY / OBLIGATION - 'right' prior to 'good' Deontological ethics normative ethical position judges morality of action based on action's adherence to a rule (or rules) says: some acts are inherently 'moral' or 'immoral' says: reason, intuition or 'moral' sense reveals what is 'right' says: own interests/happiness have no relevance ('duty' prevails) says: 'moral' (ie 'right') = observe 'moral duties', 'right' intentions END PURPOSE / ENDS - 'good' prior to 'right' Teleology belief phenomena are best explained in terms of purpose rather than cause theory of morality that derives 'duty' or 'moral obligation' from what is 'good' or 'desirable' as an end to be achieved [britannica] x2 main types of theory brought under rubric (classification) of teleological ethics = Utilitarianism & varieties of ancient Greek virtue ethics www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Teleological_ethics teleological ethics theory of ethics (as utilitarianism or ethical egoism) 'rightness' of an act is determined by its end www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/teleological%20ethics [Greek teleios, teleos, perfect, complete (from telos, end, result) [source: tfd]] says: no acts are inherently 'moral' or 'immoral' says: experience, rather than reason, reveals what is 'good' says: own/other equal consideration, evaluation says: 'moral' (ie 'good') = act to maximise happiness in end result action SOURCE (predominantly) http://www2.onu.edu/~m-dixon/handouts/ethical%20theories.html [wikipedia & various other at start] DOWNLOAD - e-book 'Politics' Aristotle Translated by Benjamin Jowett University of Adelaide, Australia https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/a/aristotle/a8po/ ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT Wow, that was fun. Started off looking for maps of Egypt when Ramesses III was around, and it sort of evolved from there. Not sure that I'm up for all that reading.  And I'm not sure I like Aristotle.  Women and slaves aren't the problem. All that 'virtue' stuff sounds unpleasant to me.  Is there a third way? Quickly skimmed the philosophy of ethics info.  Not sure I'll remember much of it.  But I'm not that hung up on ethics, so it doesn't matter. I'm inclined to think that you cannot have blanket ethics rules, because all things are not equal and each situation demands specific responses.  I'm talking about affairs of the state types of situations (rather than everyday existence, which is probably automatic).  That's my gut feeling, but I haven't really given this a whole heap of thought. Also, I don't think 'nature' intended man to live in massive societies that consume and breed on a massive scale, and destroy nature for the enrichment of an elite few.  But 'nature' probably doesn't 'intend' anything.  Nature just is. Might skim some of Aristotle's 'Politics' ... after I edit Ramesses III's GIF to my satisfaction, because it's an action that will result in greater good.  And it's more fun.  ;) ꕤ