History of Ethical Philosophy (Members Only)

A close-up of a stone statue depicting an older bearded man with a thoughtful expression, set against a textured stone wall background.

History of Ethical Philosophy

Experience the History of Ethical Philosophy with WisdomMaps: The Future of the Past!

Perspective

Our digital history of ethical philosophy concerns itself with values and right and wrong behavior in the context of those values. It tries to define foundational concepts: good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime.

Our maps of ethical philosophy draw upon philosophers from ancient Greece and Rome, the social philosophy of China, and the canon of Christianity and Judaism.

That said, here’s our assortment… please enjoy! When you’re done perusing a map, click the ⇠ back arrow link in the upper left of your screen (not the < link), and you’ll be back here. Any problems, please get in touch at terrence@wisdommaps.info.

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Index

Aristotle: The Philosopher • The Teacher • The Statesman | Plato: The Academy • Beliefs • The Artist • The Lawmaker • The Metaphysicist • The Utopian | The Moralist | Socrates: The Philosopher • The Teacher • Death | Cassius Dio | Cato the Elder: Background • Writings • Legacy | Catullus | Cicero: Background • Beliefs • Writings | Dio Chrysostom | Ennius | Epictetus | Eusebius | Horace | Julius Caesar | Juvenal | Lactantius | Lucan | Lucretius: Writings | Panaetius of Rhodes | | Philo | Plautus | Plotinus | Seneca the Younger: Beliefs • Writings | Cynicism | Epicureanism | Stoicism: Zeno of Citium • Panaetius of Rhodes • Posidonius • Statius • Rufus | Skepticism: Carneades • Lyceum • Pyrrho | Epicureanism: Epicurus | Chinese Social Philosophy • Yang Zhu • Confucius: Background | Confucianism: Confucian Classics • Concerns • Politics • Morality • The Way of the Higher Man • Legacy | Legalism • Daoism • Mencius: Background • Beliefs • Politics | Mo-Tzu | Xunzi | Zhuangzi | Christianity: Origins | Apostles: John: Writings • Paul: Background • Missions • Beliefs | Peter | Disciples | Gospels | Early Christianity: Moral Code • Sacraments • Ritual • Doctrine • Orthodoxy • Creeds • Monasticism | Jesus of Nazareth: Life and Teachings • Achievements • Final Break • Death and Transfiguration • Perception • Scholarship | Church Fathers: Augustine | Literature: Origen • Tertullian • Apologists • Literary Tradition | Modern Scholarship: Higher Criticism | Judaism • People of the Book: Book of Genesis | Prophets: Jeremiah • Isaiah • Mosaic Code

Ancient Greece

A marble bust of a bearded man with short, wavy hair, realistic facial features, and a draped robe; set against a plain background.

White text on a black background reads: “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” — Aristotle. The words at all are bolded for emphasis.

Aristotle: The Philosopher

A curved stone path winds through a grassy park with a white statue of a standing figure and a large round sundial. Trees and green hills surround the area under a partly cloudy sky.

Aristotle: The Teacher

A crowned woman sits on a throne holding a staff, surrounded by angels and a monk offering a book. Below, a bearded man in a robe sits thoughtfully with scrolls and books, amid a rocky landscape.

Aristotle: The Statesman

Marble bust of an ancient bearded man with curly hair and a solemn expression, set against a gray stone background. The figure’s features are detailed, reflecting classical Greek sculpture style.

Ancient mosaic depicting a group of philosophers in discussion, seated and standing around a central figure under trees and classical columns, surrounded by a decorative border with floral and fruit motifs.

Plato: The Academy

Marble bust of a bearded man with wavy hair and a solemn expression, set against a stone background. The sculpture is classical in style, showing detailed facial features and texture in the beard and hair.

A bearded man in white robes sits beneath a tree, surrounded by nude and semi-nude figures lounging on the ground in various poses, set against a lush, scenic outdoor background.

Plato: The Artist

White marble statue of an ancient Greek philosopher with a full beard and draped clothing, set against a black background. The figure looks slightly to the side with a thoughtful expression.

Plato: The Lawmaker

A marble statue of a seated bearded man in ancient Greek attire, holding a scroll, against a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Plato: The Metaphysicist

Colorful, medieval-style map illustration of a walled island city labeled Utopiae Insulae Figura, surrounded by water and featuring buildings, towers, and distant green hills.

Plato: The Utopian

A grayscale image of a stone bust with the quote: Good people dont need laws to tell them to act responsibly... and bad people will find a way around the laws. -PLATO written over it.

Plato: The Moralist

A close-up photo of an ancient marble bust depicting a bearded man with curly hair, prominent eyebrows, and deep-set eyes, wearing a draped garment. The sculpture has a weathered, classical appearance.

Philosophy: Socrates

A marble statue of an ancient Greek philosopher is shown on the right, with a quote on the left: An unexamined life, is not worth living. – Socrates. The words unexamined and worth are highlighted in yellow.

Socrates: The Philosopher

A marble bust of Socrates is shown on the left. To the right, white text reads: Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel. - Socrates. The background is black.

Socrates: The Teacher

A stone relief sculpture depicts four sorrowful men mourning over a wrapped, lifeless body laid on a bed, with two men crouched close in grief and two standing behind, gesturing and weeping.

Socrates: Death

Ancient Rome

Marble bust of a man with curly hair, a full beard, and mustache. The sculpture is detailed, with blank eyes and intricate curls, set against a plain background.

Marble bust of an older man with a bald head, deep-set eyes, prominent cheekbones, furrowed brow, and a stern expression, shown in dramatic lighting with strong shadows.

Marble bust of two figures dressed in Roman togas, seated side by side. The figure on the left appears younger, while the figure on the right has a more mature, solemn expression. Both look forward, with detailed facial features.

Cato the Elder: Background

A young person in medieval clothing sits on a bench, reading a book, inside a stone building with books stacked on a nearby desk and a window revealing dark trees outside.

Cato the Elder: Writings

A group of men in ancient Roman clothing sit and listen to a speaker, while another man stands holding a basket filled with red beets and leafy greens. The scene appears to take place in a Roman forum or meeting space.

Cato the Elder: Legacy

A painted portrait of a young man with short dark hair wearing a golden laurel wreath, set against a light background and framed by a decorative border.

Marble bust of a middle-aged man with short hair and a serious expression, displayed against a plain light-colored background.

A marble statue of a man in ancient Roman attire, with one arm outstretched and the other holding a scroll, stands against a textured stone wall.

Cicero: Background

A marble statue of Marcus Tullius Cicero on a red background, with the quote: Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others. ~~Marcus Tullius Cicero written beside it.

Cicero: Beliefs

A worn, yellowed manuscript page displays faded Latin text handwritten in brown ink, with lines of text overlapping each other in two layers (palimpsest), reflecting age and historical preservation.

Cicero: Writings

A detailed sketch of an ancient bust depicting a bearded man with curly hair, draped in classical clothing. The bust rests on a pedestal inscribed with Greek letters. There is a tree and a column in the background.

Marble bust of a bearded man with wavy hair and a solemn expression, sculpted in classical Greek style, set against a black background.

Black and white engraving of an elderly bearded man in ancient robes, looking slightly to the side, with an open book on a stand beside him. The background consists of horizontal lines.

Black and white portrait of a person with short curly hair, wearing a laurel wreath on their head and a draped garment, depicted in a classical, ancient style.

Marble bust of an ancient Roman man with a serious expression, short hair, and wearing a toga draped over one shoulder. The sculpture is highly detailed and appears classical in style.

A weathered, ancient fresco shows the bust of a man with a beard and head covering. The image is faded and cracked, revealing significant deterioration and flaking on the surface, set against a blue background.

A medieval-style illustration of a man with long curly hair, wearing a tall hat and a robe, labeled Lucanus at the top. The image is in muted colors with a textured background.

Black and white engraving of a marble bust depicting a bearded man with curly hair, wearing a draped garment, set within an oval frame. The bust has a classical, ancient Roman style.

Ancient Roman stone slab with Latin inscriptions carved into the surface, featuring large, clear uppercase letters at the top, and smaller, closely spaced text beneath on a worn, rectangular tablet.

Lucretius: Writings

Black and white engraving of a bearded man wearing a decorated helmet and cloak, with Greek or Hebrew letters inscribed on his helmet and cloak, gazing forward with a serious expression.

Black-and-white drawing of a bearded man wearing a laurel wreath on his head and a toga fastened with a brooch, depicted in an oval frame.

Marble bust of a bearded man with prominent cheekbones and deep-set eyes, shown in a three-quarter view against a plain background. The statue appears aged and weathered.

Marble bust of a man with short hair and draped clothing, facing slightly to the right; the surface is weathered and inscribed with the word “SENECA” on the chest.

Seneca the Younger

A black and white sketch of an ancient philosopher’s face is on the left; on the right, a quote reads: “Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful.”.

Seneca the Younger: Beliefs

Text over a misty coastal landscape reads: Time discovers truth. Time heals what reason cannot. – Seneca the Younger.

Seneca the Younger: Writings

A bearded man in a robe sits in a dark, rounded shelter, holding a scroll. He appears thoughtful and contemplative, with rough, shaded features and an intense, introspective expression. The image is in black and white.

A marble bust of a bearded man with curly hair, facing slightly to the right. The sculpture shows detailed facial features and draped clothing, set against a plain background.

Ancient stone relief of a seated man in a robe, writing on a tablet or scroll at a desk with shelves containing scrolls and objects; Greek text is inscribed around the figure.

Engraving of a bearded man in a robe, holding a pen, seated at a desk with papers. Text above reads MARC TERENCE VARRON. Chap. 126. The background is lined and simple.

Hellenistic Kingdoms

Bronze statue of a bearded man in a toga with his right arm raised, next to a horse, both facing forward. The background is plain white.

A marble bust of Marcus Aurelius is shown next to his quote about mastering equanimity and self-control in difficult circumstances, displayed in white text on a black background. His name is highlighted in red.

Stoicism: Marcus Aurelius

Marble bust of a bearded man with curly hair, a furrowed brow, and a solemn expression, set against a dark background.

A marble bust of an older man with short hair, a trimmed beard, and deep-set eyes, depicted in a classical Roman style. The expression is serious and contemplative.

Panaetius of Rhodes

A marble bust of a man with short hair, a trimmed beard, and a damaged nose, set against a plain light-colored wall. The sculpture shows realistic facial features and classical Roman style.

Marble bust of a man with short, wavy hair and draped clothing, gazing slightly to the side; classical Roman-style sculpture on a plain background.

Marble bust of an older man with short hair and draped clothing, displayed in a museum gallery. In the background, a statue of a nude male figure can be seen, along with other classical sculptures.

A bearded elderly man in a red cloak sits at a wooden desk, writing with a quill. Books, papers, and writing tools surround him, suggesting deep concentration and scholarly work in a historical setting.

Marble bust of an elderly bearded man with detailed facial features and deep-set eyes; sculpted in classical style, the statue lacks pupils and has a slightly weathered, smooth surface.

A group of ancient Greek men in togas and red sandals engage in discussion in a classical setting, seated and standing around a stone bench, with ornate patterns on the wall above them.

A marble bust of an ancient bearded man with wavy hair, set against a plain reddish-brown background. The statue shows classical features and is depicted from the shoulders up.

White marble bust of a bearded man with wavy hair, serious expression, and draped clothing, set against a black background.

A bronze statue of a seated bearded man in a toga, with an intense expression and one hand raised as if gesturing or speaking, set against a black background.

China

A page from an old Chinese book printed with vertical columns of dense traditional Chinese characters on yellowed paper, showing signs of age and wear.

Social Philosophy

Ink and color painting of an elderly East Asian man with a mustache and beard, wearing traditional robes and a black hat, set against a tan background with red seals.

Traditional painting of an ancient Chinese scholar with a long black beard, mustache, blue headpiece, and layered robes, set against a warm beige background.

A traditional ink drawing of an ancient Chinese philosopher with a long beard and robes, accompanied by vertical Chinese calligraphy on the right side. The background is a faded, aged parchment.

Confucius: Background

Ancient Chinese painting of a man in traditional robes, looking to the left, with black hair and beard. Chinese calligraphy text is written above him on a yellowish background.

An open book displays vertical lines of traditional Chinese text in black ink on white pages, with a clear margin dividing the two pages. The book rests on a dark surface.

Confucian Classics

Close-up view of a red column with gold Chinese characters under a colorful, ornate roof, photographed from a low angle.

Confucianism: Concerns

Black and white illustration of several people in traditional Chinese robes standing before a seated figure at a table, suggesting a historical or royal court scene.

Confucianism: Politics

Ancient Chinese painting depicting a group of men in traditional robes, seated and gathered on an elevated platform, engaged in conversation amid a natural background.

Confucianism: Morality

A traditional Chinese painting of an elderly man with a long white beard and mustache, wearing ancient robes and a black headpiece, set against a mountainous background.

Confucianism: The Way of the Higher Man

A group of people in traditional and Western clothing stand in front of a large stone statue of a figure on a grassy hillside, with trees and a clear sky in the background.

Confucianism: Legacy

A black and white illustration shows three adults and one child. One adult holds another upside down by the ankles while a third stands by a table. The child stands nearby, covering their face. Some small objects are scattered on the floor.

A large stone statue of a seated bearded man with flowing robes is set outdoors amid trees and mountains in the background. The figure appears calm and contemplative.

Traditional-style painting of an ancient Asian man with a long beard, wearing a robe and a simple cap, looking thoughtful. The background is plain with subtle calligraphy on the upper right.

A traditional Chinese painting depicts a man with a mustache and goatee, wearing a robe and a headpiece, inside an oval frame on a yellowed background.

Mencius: Background

Mencius: Beliefs

Stone stele with intricate carvings of two entwined dragons, situated outdoors near a tree and a brick wall, on a paved pathway.

Mencius: Politics

Black and white drawing of an ancient East Asian man with a thin mustache, long beard, and traditional robe, looking to the side. His hair is tied back with a cloth.

A traditional Chinese painting of a man with a thin mustache and beard, wearing a black headscarf and dark robe, gazing slightly to the side against a plain background.

Ink painting of an elderly man with a long beard, seated in a flowing robe, with a butterfly near his head. Chinese calligraphy is written on the left side of the image. The style is traditional and expressive.

Christianity

A mosaic artwork depicting a bearded man with long hair, halo, and solemn expression, set against a gold and brown patterned background. The style is typical of Byzantine religious art.

Ancient mosaic depicting a figure with a halo and radiating lines behind the head, wearing a robe and looking forward, created with small colored tiles.

Christianity: Origins

An icon-style painting of Saint John with a halo, gray beard, and wearing robes, holding a decorated book against a gold background. The words Saint John are written in red at the top.

A bearded man in a red robe stands outdoors, holding an open book and pointing with his right hand. A scenic landscape with a river, trees, and distant hills appears in the background.

Mosaic artwork depicting a bearded man with a halo, wearing a robe and raising one hand, set against a light background.

A mosaic shows three standing saints or apostles with halos and inscriptions, facing a crowned and seated king in ornate robes. Another figure stands behind the king. The scene is set against a gold background.

Paul: Background

A bearded man in a green robe with a red cloak sits holding a book and a sword, with a solemn expression. He is seated against a dark background with light coming from the left.

A bearded man with long hair sits at a cluttered desk covered with papers and books, holding a quill and resting his arm on a sword, gazing intently toward the viewer in a dimly lit room.

Mosaic artwork depicting three haloed male figures in white robes, each holding a bowl. The background is gold with palm trees and decorative patterns.

Apostles: Peter

Ancient fresco depicting a central figure with a raised hand, surrounded by a group of people, all wearing robes, set against a curved, reddish arch background.

Christianity: Disciples

Stained glass window depicting Jesus offering a chalice and bread to his disciples, illustrating the Last Supper. The scene features expressive faces, vibrant robes, and intricate details.

Christianity: Gospels

Ancient mosaic depicts five men in robes, the central figure in dark clothing holding bread, while figures on either side hold loaves of bread and fish, illustrating a biblical scene.

Early Christianity

Ancient mosaic featuring two birds facing a central basket, with Greek or Latin text inscribed below, created with small, square stone tiles.

Early Christianity: Moral Code

A detailed religious artwork features nine framed scenes surrounding a central monstrance with the Eucharist, illustrating significant Christian events and figures in ornate, gothic-style arches.

Early Christianity: Sacraments

A group of people dressed in white robes and head coverings hold lit candles in a dimly lit, cave-like space. One man in the foreground wears a yellow headwrap and shawl, focusing on his candle.

Early Christianity: Ritual

A medieval painting depicts a haloed figure reaching toward a group of people emerging from the mouth of a large dragon or beast, with golden halos and a textured gold background.

Christianity: Doctrine

An icon of Jesus Christ holding a book, with a golden halo behind his head. Below the image is a gold Orthodox cross and the words Orthodoxy: One Holy Catholic & Apostolic Church.

Doctrine: Orthodoxy

Icon depicting six religious figures in ornate robes and halos standing behind a large scroll with Greek text; the central figure holds a cross and a book, and wears an elaborate crown and red-gold garments.

Christianity: Creeds

Ancient religious fresco with multiple haloed figures, including one lying in a bed or tomb, surrounded by others, painted in earthy tones on a textured wall, typical of Byzantine or early Christian art.

An old, worn religious icon depicts figures under a domed canopy. A bearded man at right bends over a child on an altar, while three haloed figures watch. The background and border are ornately decorated in gold, red, green, and blue.

Jesus of Nazareth: Life and Teachings

Stained glass artwork depicting a bearded figure with long hair and a glowing halo, set against a colorful background with blue, orange, and yellow hues.

Jesus of Nazareth: Achievements

A group of people in robes and head coverings walk together through a sunlit, ancient-looking street, with some holding staffs and others looking ahead seriously.

Jesus of Nazareth: Final Break

A dramatic painting depicting the crucifixion of three men on crosses, surrounded by a crowd of mourners, soldiers, and onlookers under a dark, stormy sky.

Jesus of Nazareth: Death and Transfiguration

A stained glass artwork in an ornate gold frame depicts a bearded man with a halo holding a lamb close to his face. The background features earthy tones and landscape elements.

Jesus of Nazareth: Perception

A mosaic depicting a solemn figure with long hair and a beard, set against a gold background with a halo, typical of Byzantine Christian iconography.

Jesus of Nazareth: Scholarship

Byzantine-style religious painting showing a group of haloed men wearing robes and holding books or scrolls, standing closely together under an ornate, gold-arched background with decorative patterns.

The Church: Church Fathers

A bearded man in ornate religious robes and a tall, decorated bishop’s hat reads a large red book, set against a gold background.

Church Fathers: Augustine

Ancient illustration shows two figures playing instruments under trees, with animals nearby. Below them, Latin text is written on a faded manuscript page. The scene appears pastoral and rustic.

Culture: Literature

An old man with a long beard sits on a chair, wearing draped robes. He faces forward with one hand raised, as if making a point or gesture. The background features fine, lined shading.

Literature: Origen

An icon-style painting of a bearded man in ornate religious robes, holding a decorated book and making a gesture with his right hand, set against a gold background with Greek text.

Literature: Tertullian

Ancient marble plaque with Greek inscription in red letters, featuring decorative symbols including two menorahs and other motifs on the top part of the stone, mounted on a beige wall.

Literature: Apologists

Ancient fresco depicting a seated person in a white robe, holding an open scroll and resting their head on one hand, set against a cracked, yellowish background.

Literature: Literary Tradition

A pair of gold-rimmed eyeglasses rests on the open pages of a book, with text clearly visible. Sunlight creates a bright reflection on the left page.

Modern Scholarship

A close-up of an illuminated medieval manuscript page featuring Latin text with decorative red and blue initials, including a large ornate Q and DAVID PSALM written in red ink.

Higher Criticism

Judaism

Ancient stone relief depicting Roman soldiers carrying a large menorah and other sacred objects, likely from the Arch of Titus, with detailed carvings of figures and ornate artifacts.

A golden menorah with seven lit candles stands in front of a large yellow and purple Star of David on a white background.

An open Torah scroll with Hebrew text, resting on an ornate patterned cloth, with wooden rollers on each side and a silver yad (pointer) placed on the parchment.

People of the Book

A close-up of an old, sepia-toned Bible page showing the beginning of the Book of Genesis, with the words In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth clearly visible.

Book of Genesis

An elderly, bearded man with a glowing halo kneels in prayer on a rocky ledge, wrapped in a colorful cloth. A group of people stands in the background beneath a radiant sky.

A silhouette of a person stands on a hill at sunset, watching a fortress or ancient building engulfed in flames, with smoke rising into a cloudy sky.

Icon-style painting of the Prophet Isaiah with a halo, holding a scroll that reads, “Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel.” Text beside him says “Holy Prophet Isaiah.”.

Ancient Roman mosaic featuring three figures in the center, surrounded by geometric and floral patterns in earthy tones. The word MARTIAS is inscribed above the central scene.

elsewhere in history

A Renaissance painting depicts groups of men in long robes standing on marble steps, watching a central scene where a figure in gold approaches an ornate altar inside a grand architectural setting.

High Middle Ages

A Renaissance painting depicts the Angel Gabriel delivering a message to the Virgin Mary under an arched colonnade, with both figures adorned with halos and set against a garden background.

The Renaissance

A man in a monk’s robe holds a hammer and nails a large document to a wooden door, surrounded by other papers. He looks over his shoulder with a serious expression.

The Reformation

A person with shoulder-length dark hair, wearing historical clothing, sits at a table with books and papers, against a backdrop of classical architecture and a distant mountain. A small statue is visible behind them.

Scientific Revolution: Spinoza

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