Comparative Axiology: Aesthetics & Ethics
From Wikiversity
Axiology, or aesthetics plus ethics, studies value: of beauty plus virtue, respectively. Aesthetics may be easier, but can show ethics' value: ethics are aesthetic. The 'great' religions (monotheisms and henotheisms) and even most pagan ones involve axiology.
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[edit] Introduction to Philosophical (Platonic) Axiology
Read the following Platonic dialogues. The 1st dialogues listed are a good introduction, and the rest expand as explained. It would be good to then read some neo-Platonism, though I have not read any yet so cannot recommend specifics.
Aesthetics: Symposium, beauty: Greater Hippias.
Ethics: Lysis; courage: Laches; moderation: Charmides; piety: Euthyphro; virtue: Republic (definition,) Symposium (benefits,) Meno (acquiring,) Gorgias (rhetorical,) Protagoras, Laws (society.)
Note that Republic and Laws are long, though it is good to read them entirely, maybe just look up the section on cardinal virtues in Republic and read as much of Laws as you want (at least skim through.)
[edit] Comparative Aesthetics
After getting a philosophical background in aesthetics, perhaps take a look at Jungian psychology archetypes--or just compare some religious art.
Look at cultural and religious art: that of African, Australian, Amerindian, Middle Eastern, Semitic, Sumerian, Oriental, Indian cultures, Hellenismos, Slavianstvo, Celtic, Forn Siðr (Teutonic) cultures and religions. A significant archetype in pagan religions is the world-tree, and in Hellenismos: Hermes' caduceus.
Look at religious art in the great religions: Sanatana/Hindu Dharma, Mazdaism/Zoroastrianism, Atenism/Amenism, Nazareans/Judaism, Jain Dharma, Taoism (and Confucianism if applicable,) Buddhist Dharma, Nazareans/Christianity, Islam, Druze, Sikh Dharma, Bahai. A significant archetype in Dharma is the Kundalini-Shakti, and in Judaism the Tree of Life, especially The Tree of The Treasuries of The House of Elohim.
Recall what you learned about philosophical aesthetics, perhaps take a look at Pythagorean and [neo-]Platonic mathematical visuals, postulate why ethics could be aesthetic, and sum up your ideas on aesthetics.
[edit] Comparative Ethics
After getting a philosophical background in ethics, perhaps take a look at [near] modern deist philosophy and see if it is similarly ethical. Better yet, read the Egyptian Book of The Dead (Oaths/Commandments to/from Osiris,) Yoga Sutra (precepts,) Genesis (Edenic Laws, 10 Commandments,) a biography of Lao-tze, and Dhammapada (precepts,) particularly ethical records such as noted.
Compare the ahimsa precept in Dharma (Devic, maybe incl. Mazdaism) and Eastern religions with the Edenic Laws and "Thou shall not kill" in Amenist-Nazarean-Islam-Druze-Sikh-Bahai (Amenite & Abrahamic) and Western religions. If you read the Republic section on the diet of guardians (philosopher-rulers of a Republic,) what do you think the ramifications of the latter precept/commandment is in such Philosophical/Hellenismos context? Note related practices in Dharmi and Amenite/Abrahamic religions.
Consider that ethical practices produce aesthetic life and society, and sum up your ideas on ethics.
[edit] Comparative Axiology
Integrate aesthetic and ethical ideas into axiological ones, and consider what episteme (knowledge, particularly scientific) this could lead to, and prepare for epistemology.
