L’etica nel ventunesimo secolo

Abstract

What does it mean ethics? What are the most important ethical problems in modern society? The word «ethics» is derived from the Greek word «ethos» (character) and from the Latin word «mores» (customs). Together, they combine to define «how» individuals «choose» to interact with one another. In philosophy, ethics defines what is «good» for the individual and for society and establishes the «nature» of duties that people owe themselves and one another. Moving from this point of view, it is analysed the book of Wilhelm Vossenkuhl: Die Möglichkeit des Guten. Ethik im 21. Jahrhundert, C. H. Beck, München, 2006, pp. 472 and are outlined new perspectives of research in ethics, in particular connection with the chapters: Ethik als Konfliktwissenschaft; Das Gute, das Richtige und das gute Leben; Freiheit und Verantwortung (paragraphs: Grenzen der Möglichen, Die Freiheit von Personen and Kant und die Willensfreiheit). Human «tragedy» in modern society is that our scientific-technological «automatisms» drive us too far from real, deep and pure «authenticity» of emotions and feelings of the human being.