Philosophy – ‘Ethics of Economics’
Description:
Within the paper, for this answer, there cannot be extensive quotation of the authors you discuss. The authors can be paraphrased in a concise way (i.e. use your own words). If you paraphrase, you must still place the publication’s page numbers from where the paraphrase was taken and also list from which publication within the Reference page.
While Aristotle, Plato, Locke, or Rousseau do not primarily address the means and ends of economic activity, they develop elements of what might be called an ‘ethics of economics’. Elements of such an ethic might include:
• Defining the legitimate ends/purposes of economic activity;
• Defining the legitimate means by which such economic ends are achieved;
• Distinguishing between legitimate and illegitimate economic means & ends; and
• Situating economic activity within a larger political or social framework that endows economic activity with meaning.
Choose from any two philosophers from Aristotle, Plato, Locke, or Rousseau and answer the following: What elements of an economic ethic do you find in their writings? How does the ethic of each philosopher differ from one another? In what ways do their ethics of economics relate to broader themes of their political philosophy?
Title and Table of Contents pages not necessary for this paper.