Plato and Aristotle Define Ethics - Once and for All

Charles, you point out a crucial fact here. Ethics and law are not always one and the same thing. For instance, at one time, slavery was legal in this country, but was it ethical? This writer says it was, is unethical. Plato defines ethics as behaviors that do not harm ourselves or others. Notice his focus is on what we do, not what we say. For Plato how we "walk our talk" - our behavior, not our jibber jabber - counts. Aristotle, the student of Plato, added this. The most important things, values in life are "caught" from examples of the behavior of others, not taught through books, lectures. Again, if the behavior inflicts injury on others or ourselves, regardless of what laws may or may not say, it is unethical. Notice, too, that injury is universal, and this standard - do not injure others or ourselves through our behaviors - applies to all humans in all places and at all times. Only a diseased biological creature seeks death or pain. Human are biological creatures; unless we are crazy or on drugs, we do not seek pain or death. Biology determines what is ethical, not laws. Hopoefully laws reinforce the biology, but as you observe, this is not always the case.