Final answer:
Hick refers to the idea of an infallibly moral person, a concept traversed by Kant, Plato, and Leibniz, among others, who propose various foundations for morality, which range from universal maxims and ideal forms to divine commandments.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hick suggests that the concept of a person who can infallibly act rightly at all times is a complex idea discussed by various philosophers and theologians.
Kant, in his Critique of Practical Reason, postulates that ethical actions should be governed by universal maxims that all humans could find reasonable, establishing a basis for morality rooted in reason rather than in religious faith or utilitarian calculus.
Kant delineates between perfect and imperfect duties, with perfect duties being those that we are obliged to perform at all times. Plato, on the other hand, envisions a ruler who is free from corruption and always understands what is best for their community, achieving true justice.
Furthermore, Leibniz argued that our world must be the best possible world because humans, lacking infinite perspective, cannot fully understand the complexities of the universe and the necessity of evil within it.
Finally, ethical frameworks often involve the divine, either as the exemplar for human action or as the ultimate judge of moral behavior, setting an objective standard for right and wrong.