Ruwen Ogien was a prominent French philosopher known for his "minimalist" approach to ethics, particularly detailed in works like L'Éthique aujourd'hui : Maximalistes et minimalistes (2007) and La philosophie morale (2004). His work challenges traditional moral frameworks by arguing for a sharp distinction between duties to oneself and duties to others.
Ruwen Ogien’s moral philosophy represents a radical departure from traditional "maximalist" ethics. While many moral systems seek to provide a comprehensive guide on how to live a "good" or "virtuous" life, Ogien’s "minimalist ethics" proposes a stripped-down framework designed to protect individual freedom while maintaining social cooperation. At the heart of his project is the rejection of moral paternalism and the assertion that ethics should primarily concern our treatment of others, rather than our governance of ourselves. The Core Principle: No Harm to Others Download Ruwen Ogien philosophie morale epub
This stance leads to a significant conclusion: there are no "crimes without victims." If an action—such as drug use, voluntary euthanasia, or unconventional sexual practices—involves only consenting adults and does not infringe upon the rights of a third party, it cannot be considered morally wrong within a minimalist framework. The Rejection of Duties to Oneself Ruwen Ogien was a prominent French philosopher known