A New Moral Theory: Synthesizing Moral Ideas of Aristotle and Kant

Abstract

My research is on the ethical theories of Aristotle and Kant – the two most influential ethical theories in Western history. Despite their persuasiveness, each presents a different view with regards to the notion of morality and how we ought to act in our lives. This conflict between the two equally compelling ethics forces us to choose one while giving up the other. My goal is to synthesize the two theories and present a new comprehensive ethical theory which, if successful, will encompass the virtues of both theories while avoiding inherent contradiction. I am going to analyze the moral frameworks of Aristotle and Kant represented in Nicomachean Ethics and Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals respectively and compare and contrast them with the focus on their notion of morality. If the new comprehensive moral theory turns out to be convincing, it will spare many people an ethical dilemma between the two conflicting views when they try to make sense of morality and to make moral decisions.