Environmental ethics a philosophical study in the context of Islam and Hinduism (ePub)

The history of ethics, which starts about the period of 6

thcentury B.C., was

entirely related to moral philosophy which has its own uniqueness and was divided

into three periods. The medieval era of ethics started from 500 A.D. to 1500 A.D; the

foremost subject of debate in the medieval times was its acceptance by early English

positivists. After the medieval period we move to the illuminated times and proceed

with Hobbes the father of modern ethics and this period started from 1500 A.D.

onwards. After Hobbes the thoughts of English and German ethics have been

distinguished. So because of that the English Intuitionists (naturalists) served by

Utilitarian's got opposed to Kantian ethics but in the 19th century these have been

discussed very furiously in Europe. The evolution concepts into physical sciences and

development of ethics developed by Comte, Darwin, Spencer backed by Green made

the impact of evolutionary concepts in 20thcentury also, but still shared amid

Utilitarian's and Kantians (Kant's categorical Imperative).1

In ethical institution each

period had its own special characteristics. In the Greek period the state shaped the

background of the moral life, and who so ever performed his duties as a responsible

citizens was regarded as a good man. The medieval period was dominated by

Christian religion in Europe, so because of that the good moral life was identified

with the holy religious point of view. In the modern life, morality is concerned with

individual's rights and duties in order to free other individuals.