El propósito de este ensayo es examinar algunos de los puntos de vista relacionados con la ética en el pensamiento de Bertrand Russell. Los puntos de vistas éticos de Russell no están expresados de manera técnica o sistemática, es decir, él no escribió sobre estos asuntos como filosofo moral perteneciente a la academia, sino mas bien, sencillamente como autor. La visión de Russsell constituye una rica mezcla de conceptos e ideas, los cuales contemplan clemencias tales como la felicidad, el placer, (...) los derechos individuales y el bienestar disponible para todos, que han sido laxamente denominadas en este ensayo como su proyecto humano.The purpose of this essay is to examine sorne of Bernard Russell’s views in relation to his ethical thought. His views are not expressed in a technical or systematic manner owing to the fact that Russell dealer with these markers simply as an author, instead of as a moral philosopher immersed in an academic environment. Russell's thought construers a rich blend of concepts which contemplates cements such as happiness, pleasure, individual rights and welfare available to all have, in very broad rearms, referred to all these dements as his human project. (shrink)

The author examines the outstanding texts in Saint Augustine's works about hapiness -specially in De beata uita, Confessiones, and De Trinitate-, in order to establish interlinking points with the Ciceronian books related to this subject. The Hortensius (specially frg. 36, 39 and 79 Müller), is a reiterated and coincident reference in the different Augustine's works. It also acts as a key into other many passages of the classical philosophical tradition. On the other hand, Augustin modifies and perfects elements there (...) contained, because of his assimilation of the New Testament tradition related to this topic. (shrink)

Bentham's critical statements on the Declaration of Human Rights of the French revolutionaries are supposed to be merely of historical value, as directed against a dated formulation. Against this, it is argued that the essential point of Bentham's argument is valid against any intuitivist interpretation of human rights (that is, against interpretations that take human rights as ultimate, absolute data) but are agreeable with an interpretation that takes Human Rights to be preferred lines of action that are normally conducive to (...) the greatest general hapiness. (shrink)

The Dalai Lama once wrote that the object of human existence was to be happy. This sounds extremely glib as happiness in the popular imagination is a feeling and in the words of the song 'the greatest gift that we possess'. On the other hand, von Hugel wrote 'Religion has never made me happy;it's no use shutting your eyes to the fact that the deeper you go, the more alone you will find yourself' This small masterpiece by the late Fr (...) Herbert McCabe of the Dominican order steers a steady courss between these two extremes. We feels instinctively that human beings are designed to enjoy themselves and to be happy and yet we are told that suffering is good for the soul. But in the Catholic tradition the true object of human existence is the vision of God and nothing less than this will ever make us truly happy. But Fr McCabe explores much deeper issues. Is Happiness a pleasure or a pain? You hardly know. Certainly it is not a comfort for comfort spells seciurity and hapiness can take you out of yourself to a degree where all secutiry is left behind. Behind a feeling of exultation, you can sense the flame of incandescent terror. This short book is entirely original and will further enhance McCabe's posthumous reputation. (shrink)