However, this exploration from two perspectives violates the term ethical as it should be “a universal system of moral principles and values “ applicable through actions perpetrated by humans. However, absolute standards are unobtainable and conditional upon the society and time in which they are conceived. Another definition suggests that to be ethical is “to conform to accepted standards consistent with the agreed principles of correct moral conduct”. Conversely, until Aristotle, there were no “agreed principles for moral conduct” thus the term ethical cannot be used within the context

The patriarchal society again would support this view with each god or goddess having specific roles attributed to him/her. However, despite the gods often being instigators of events; for example the Trojan war- Aphrodite appears to cause it, but ultimately the war is caused by Paris who steals Helen by abusing Menelaos’ hospitality thus provoking Menelaos to call upon the suitors of Helen to rescue her. In this case, the gods are being manipulated by Homer to emphasize the consequences of the lack of human morality. However we see the gods as being amoral as they are easily manipulated by the promise of material gifts in sacrifice and libation, unconcerned about the fate of most mortals bar a select few such as Sarpedon, trivialising matters such as war by indulging in a futile “battle of the gods” when the defining feature of a god is immortality: “You will never kill me, I am not a creature of fate” (book22 pg351) as opposed to knowledge and power which, although useful, are not an obligatory attribute- we see Zeus being deceived in book 14 line153. They also engage in deception, adultery, theft, rape, the production of evils for humans and are enslaved to their desires: “the murderous work of manslaughtering Ares”

The significant feature of the gods amorality is, however, their total disregard for the consequences of their actions: Hera says to Hephaestos “it is not right to mistreat an immortal like this for the sake of mortal men” (book 21 pg 344) and their selfish love/lust. Love should underlie ethical principles- agape should be the basis on which to build a society as opposed to the fulfilment of selfish desire. Summum bonum, or highest good is the most primary concept of ethical morality. This good can only be bestowed by a being greater than us in all senses of the word, for example, the Christian God of today, developed by the Romans and Thomas Aquinas. This god has evolved from the polytheistic Homeric society, already moving towards a monotheistic society with the hierarchical constitution of the gods. This change originated in the 5th century BC when Plato proposed a system of deities that had similarities to gods of the Homeric ages, but loved, were generous, and were controlled by their minds as opposed to their desires. Platonic deities gave moral and ethical principles by their standards. Ancient Society ultimately rejected the Homeric gods in favour of the Platonic gods as these offered hope and the belief in agape- unconditional love. The belief is a reluctance to accept responsibility for actions and consequences thus

Some topics in this essay:
Gods Iliad, Menelaos Zeus, Ancient Society, Conversely Aristotle, Hector Apollo, Ancient Greek, Greek Latin, Hera Hephaestos, Ancient Greeks, Hume Schopenhaeur, idea eternal, gods associated, gods iliad, book 21, moral conduct”, ethical context, selfish love/lust, nature gods, example “athene, term ethical,