Main objective (ethics)
In the field of philosophy , especially ethics , in human and cultural sciences, a guiding goal or central idea is an ethical-moral, religious, philanthropic or charitable target. It is a life maxim , often expressed in a short formula , according to which the thoughts and actions of individuals and like-minded groups of people should be oriented.
term
In the philosophical context, the compound “Leitziel” contains on the one hand the naming of a value from the ethical code of conduct that is to be achieved (goal). On the other hand, it contains the stipulation that this goal should be the top rule of life and determine behavior (guideline).
Basic idea
Religious communities , academic associations , associations or educational institutions pursue key objectives that characterize their attitudes and tasks as principles of will and action to which all members of the community have to commit themselves, to which other objectives are assigned and subordinated. In the academic associations they are laid down in a charter , in the associations in the respective statutes , in the educational area in the curricula . The respective motto provides information about the basic, all-dominating guiding principle of the community. However, it still needs concrete action plans and deeds if it is not to degenerate into a commonplace and insubstantial label .
Examples
- Main objective of ethical and moral action : With the formulation of his famous categorical imperative, the philosopher Immanuel Kant defined a norm for generally applicable ethical behavior: Act in such a way that the maxim of your will could also apply at any time as a principle of general legislation .
- Leading goal love : Bishop Augustine of Hippo (354–430 AD), venerated as a doctor of the church and founder of the order, preached to his believers the goal of “ Ama et fac quod vis ” as the main rule of life, which means “ Love and do (after) what you do want . "
- Main objective of a religiously determined life : The Benedictine religious order orients its life according to the rule of its founder Benedict of Nursia (480-547 AD), which he summarized in the formula: “ Ora et labora ”, English “ Pray and work ". The also frequently quoted accompanying explanation “ Ut in omnibus glorificetur Deus ”, dt. “ That God may be glorified in everything ”, aims at the same line of thought.
- Leading goal of maturity : The philosophical epoch of the Enlightenment spread the idea of " Sapere aude " as a call to break out of the immaturity of absolutist thinking and to turn towards a rational life . Immanuel Kant declared it in 1784 in the translation " Dare to use your own intellect " as the guiding principle of the Enlightenment.
- Key goal of humanity : The Order of Malta , which was founded in the 11th century and is still active today, is a community that is committed to charity and has established the care of the elderly, the disabled, the sick and those in need of all kinds as its most important task.
- Main goal of the common good : In contrast to the arrogant ruling monarchs of courtly absolutism , who exercised their power under the motto L'État, c'est moi ( I am the state! ), The enlightened Prussian King Frederick the Great placed his person and function under the The guiding principle is to be “ first servant of the state ”.
- Main goal of self- education: The pedagogically oriented scout movement precedes the desired goal of its founding father Robert Baden-Powell of progressive self- education and a daily good deed with the motto “ Always ready ”, which is also used as a greeting. As a legacy he left the followers of his movement in a suicide note shortly before his death, the key objective: Try and leave this world a little better than you found it , dt. Tried the world better to leave a little bit, when ye have found .
literature
- Dieter Sturma, Karl Ameriks (ed.): Kant's Ethics : Mentis Verlag, Paderborn 2004, ISBN 3-89785-308-6
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Immanuel Kant: Critique of Practical Reason , § 7
- ↑ The Sovereign Order of Malta - Official Website ( Memento of the original from September 24, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ Wilhelm Bringmann: Frederick the Great. A portrait. Herbert Utz Verlag, Munich 2006
- ↑ Quoted from: Michael Stubbs: Text and Corpus Analysis. Computer-assisted studies of language and culture . Oxford: Blackwell, 1996
