Prof. Dr. S. B. KIM
CNU (Chungnam Nat ’ l University)
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2. Origin & Inevitability of philosophical ethics
3. Schedule of lecture topics
 See CNU homepage (www. cnu.ac.kr)
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 Power point slides
 Available via the cyber-lectures page of my homepage: www.cnu.ac.kr/~ksbkant/
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1. Aims and structure of the lecture series
 Major study lecture course for second class students in dept. of philosophy at CNU
 Provide general information about the philosophical discipline “ethics”
 also, opportunity to make an argument about contemporary ethical issues
- abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia, conchy etc.
(after intermediate exam.)
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2. Origin & Inevitability of philosophical ethics
 1) Origin of the concept “Ethic(s)”: etymological meaning
 2) Birth of Ethics: why or in what sense inevitable?
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1) Origin of the concept “Ethic(s)”: etymological meaning
 Aristotle (BC 384-322): Ethika Nikomacheia , Ethika
Eudemeia , Ethika megala
 Zenon v. Kition (BC 336?-264?): divided philosophy into three parts, namely logica, physica & ethica.
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Meaning of “ethos”, “ethike”
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“Ethos”: accustomed place, haunts or abodes of animals or men → manner, character, custom and convention
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“Ethike” is adjective form of “ethos” so, it means “related to custom or convention”
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Excursion: “practical philosophy”?
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“praxis” has a broad meaning
① movement in general (celestial bodies, physical things, living things etc.)
② biological living process of animals or plants
③ human activity including theoretical, thinking, moral, productive activity
* Aristotle’s practical philosophy includes and may include: ethics, politics, rhetoric, poetics
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2) Birth of ethics: why or in what sense inevitable?
 Ethos (convention) has its own function: “ Entlastungsfunktion
” (function of relief or exoneration)
※ Why weren’t they (the Greeks) contented with ethos and had to develop ethics?
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 Ans.: inevitable, when ethos loses its self-evidence
(matter of course)
 Self-evidence (Selbstverständlichkeit)?
What is it? or When we miss it?
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“It is contrary to my conviction that I take lives of other people or take aim with a rifle at them in order to keep my peace ….”
 Q: Why did you choose to go to prison? Military service would be more comfortable for you.
A: They say, the latter is easier one. I don’t know yet, which one would be easier… But it seems to me that it’s not the problem of convenience or easiness. I can’t make decision contrary to my conviction. Prison is the second best.
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On what reason ethics emerged in ancient
Greece?
 Geographical & cultural conditions: the Mediterranean Sea → “an ocean like a lake”
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 Herodotus (BC 484-430): Historia (inquiry, knowledge, information, account, story etc. gained by experiences !)
 Unidentified: Dissoi logoi (Double Arguments)
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 Conclusion:
When ethos seems to lose its self-evidence (with respect to its validity), a demand for a philosophical ethics appears.
Philosophers make questions about ethos and try to find out reliable answer.
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 Topics for next class
Basic terminologies of ethics: “ethics, ethic and moral”. “the good” “the bad”, “justice or injustice” etc.
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