The word “ethics” comes from the Greek ethikas meaning character. Today we use ethics to describe the normative standard of behavior. The history of philosophical ethics has been divided into five rational methods: virtue ethics, traditional ethics, modern ethics, and post-modern ethics. During these periods, the philosophy of ethics changed with changes within society. The first rational method is virtue ethics. The leading philosophers of this period were materialists such as Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus and Plutarch. The Greeks were looking to find eudaimonia, meaning the good life, but what is the good life? Known as the greatest Western philosopher, Plato developed the Cardinal Virtues: Justice, Courage, Moderation and Wisdom (The Republic). He believed that justice was the highest good and that all other virtues helped maintain this good. Aristotle, a student of Plato, believed that happiness was the highest good. Happiness is achieved by accomplishing one's goal and being a rational human being. For him, everyone has a goal and to achieve the goal of happiness, one must achieve excellence by living well. Everything has four purposes: the material cause, the formal cause, the efficient cause and the final cause. Aristotle also believed that happiness does not come until the end of life, when its goal is achieved (Nicomachean Ethics, p. 23). There were only three ways to learn virtue: practice, mentoring, and traditions. In order to live well, Aristotle created the golden mean which helped moderate human actions to avoid vices and live virtuously. Another virtue ethics philosopher was Epicurus, a materialist, who also believed that happiness was the highest good, but in moderation. He wrote the Principles Doctrines where the middle of the paper is what they said gave us reason. Friedrich Nietzsche and Rand instead looked to nature to see that things survive by gaining power. Although many do not admit it, I firmly believe that master morality and slave morality exist, but perhaps not to the extent that Nietzsche described it. People with a master morality are very individualistic and have a strong set of values. These characteristics can be seen in people in positions of power. Concrete examples include entrepreneur Donald Trump, dictator Adolf Hitler, and recent politician Rand Paul. While others follow the slave morality of what others have done before. Works Cited Ferrari, GRF and Tom Griffith. The Republic. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000. McInerny, Ralph. Treatise on Law: (Summa Theologica, questions 90-97). Washington, DC: Regnery Pub., 1996. Print.