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What is ethics an alternative to according to Kierkegaard and Bonhoeffer?

User Car
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Final answer:

Kierkegaard and Bonhoeffer view ethics as an alternative to secular, reason-based ethics by emphasizing a personal faith relationship with God and Christian commitment, respectively. Their perspectives contrast with Socrates and Plato's appeals to reason and knowledge of the good, Anscombe's critique of modern moral philosophy's lack of foundation, and the pragmatist view of ethics as a social construct.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question concerns ethics as it relates to the divine and the secular. Søren Kierkegaard and Dietrich Bonhoeffer were theologians and philosophers who offered alternatives to secular ethics. For Kierkegaard, ethics and morality are deeply rooted in personal faith and an individual's relationship with God, making ethics a form of religious expression. Bonhoeffer also viewed ethics through a Christian lens, emphasizing the importance of living in a way that reflects one's commitment to God, rather than adhering to a set of abstract principles.

Reflecting on the discussion of ethics by philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and modern scholars like Anscombe and the pragmatists, the complexities of moral theory become apparent. Socrates focused on the knowledge of the good, Plato on universal principles, Anscombe on the need for a substantive foundation for 'oughts', and the pragmatists on the social construction of ethics. This discourse showcases various avenues of reaching ethical understanding beyond religious absolutism and cultural relativism.

User Ajith
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