Key Philosophical Methods and Ethical Decision Criteria

Historical Philosophical Methods

Socratic Maieutics

The Socratic method focuses on establishing a definitive answer that has successfully withstood all possible objections to reveal the true nature of a concept.

Aristotelian Empirical Method

Aristotle proposed that knowledge and the pursuit of truth should be based on the observation of nature and reason to unify understanding.

Descartes' Rationalistic Method

In the 17th century, Descartes argued that one must deduce remaining truths from primary, self-evident ideas.

Hume's Empiricist Method

In the 18th century, Hume sought to overcome the skepticism that his predecessors' methods could conclude.

Kant's Transcendental Method

Kant argued that knowledge is derived from experience, which is then structured by the mind to provide unity and universality.

Wittgenstein's Analytical Linguistic Method

In the 20th century, Wittgenstein focused on clarifying and explaining the uses of language, its limits, and its possibilities.

Husserl's Phenomenological Method

Edmund Husserl proposed capturing what is essential and explaining phenomena exactly as they are experienced.

Dilthey's Hermeneutic Method

Dilthey argued that we must move beyond relativism to achieve a historical, rational interpretation of truth and the value of personal reflection.

Criteria for Analyzing Philosophical Theories

• Objectivity: Descriptions must be objective, comprehensive, systematic, and accurate.
• Interdisciplinary Approach: Descriptions should incorporate knowledge from other sciences to avoid being naive or superficial.
• Conceptual Clarity: Concepts must be well-defined, whether they are descriptive or refer to real properties.
• Empirical Testing: Theories regarding reality must be submitted to rigorous testing.
• Consistency: A theory must be internally consistent and externally valid.
• Critical Capacity: A theory should be able to critique others and resolve critical challenges.
• Humanization of Reality: Theories must justify their validity in how they conceive the humanization of the world.

Nine Great Moral Problems

These issues arise globally and can lead to serious tragedies if left unaddressed:

• The value of life and the right to exist.
• Duties toward the community.
• The exercise of power.
• Conflicts of interest and desires.
• Property ownership and distribution.
• Sexuality, procreation, and family.
• Care for the vulnerable.
• The treatment of foreigners and diverse groups.
• The meaning of life, death, and the divine.

Fundamental Ethical Criteria

To justify moral choices, one should consider:

• Evidence: Subjective internal clarity and general experience.
• Humanity: Acceptance of moral arguments through impartial dialogue.
• Universality and Consistency: Alignment with established truths.
• Efficacy: Prediction of positive consequences.
• Argumentation: Avoiding fallacies like ad horrorem.