Deck 56: Plato: Why Should I Be Moral Gygess Ring and Socratess Dilemma

Question 1

In this selection Glaucon, who is Plato's older brother, asks Socrates whether justice is good in itself or only a necessary evil. Playing the devil's advocate, Glaucon puts forth the hypothesis that egotistic power-seeking in which we have complete freedom to indulge ourselves might be the ideal state of existence. However, the hypothesis continues, reason quickly shows us that others might seek to have the same power, which would interfere with our freedom and cause a state of chaos in which no one was likely to have any of one's desires fulfilled. So we compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. Justice or a system of morality is simply the result of that compromise. It has no intrinsic value but is better than chaos and worse than undisturbed power. It is better to compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. To illustrate his point, Glaucon tells the story of a shepherd named Gyges who comes upon a ring, which at his behest makes him invisible. He uses it to escape the external sanctions of society-its laws and censure-and to serve his greed to the fullest. Glaucon asks whether it is not plausible to suppose that we all would do likewise. Then he offers a thought experiment that compares the life of the seemingly just (but unjust) man who is incredibly successful with the life of the seemingly unjust (but just) man who is incredibly unsuccessful. Which would we choose? Socrates counters that to be just is indeed always better than to be unjust. Immorality corrupts the inner person, making one truly worse off psychologically and spiritually.
-Glaucon's story of Gyges's ring is meant to show that

A) given the opportunity, people will always choose justice over injustice.
B) justice is a myth.
C) all people believe in their hearts that injustice is more profitable than justice.
D) if people could be invisible, they would never do any wrong.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

In this selection Glaucon, who is Plato's older brother, asks Socrates whether justice is good in itself or only a necessary evil. Playing the devil's advocate, Glaucon puts forth the hypothesis that egotistic power-seeking in which we have complete freedom to indulge ourselves might be the ideal state of existence. However, the hypothesis continues, reason quickly shows us that others might seek to have the same power, which would interfere with our freedom and cause a state of chaos in which no one was likely to have any of one's desires fulfilled. So we compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. Justice or a system of morality is simply the result of that compromise. It has no intrinsic value but is better than chaos and worse than undisturbed power. It is better to compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. To illustrate his point, Glaucon tells the story of a shepherd named Gyges who comes upon a ring, which at his behest makes him invisible. He uses it to escape the external sanctions of society-its laws and censure-and to serve his greed to the fullest. Glaucon asks whether it is not plausible to suppose that we all would do likewise. Then he offers a thought experiment that compares the life of the seemingly just (but unjust) man who is incredibly successful with the life of the seemingly unjust (but just) man who is incredibly unsuccessful. Which would we choose? Socrates counters that to be just is indeed always better than to be unjust. Immorality corrupts the inner person, making one truly worse off psychologically and spiritually.
-Glaucon argues that the unjust life is

A) not as good as the just life.
B) neither better nor worse than the just life.
C) impossible.
D) better than the just life.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

In this selection Glaucon, who is Plato's older brother, asks Socrates whether justice is good in itself or only a necessary evil. Playing the devil's advocate, Glaucon puts forth the hypothesis that egotistic power-seeking in which we have complete freedom to indulge ourselves might be the ideal state of existence. However, the hypothesis continues, reason quickly shows us that others might seek to have the same power, which would interfere with our freedom and cause a state of chaos in which no one was likely to have any of one's desires fulfilled. So we compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. Justice or a system of morality is simply the result of that compromise. It has no intrinsic value but is better than chaos and worse than undisturbed power. It is better to compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. To illustrate his point, Glaucon tells the story of a shepherd named Gyges who comes upon a ring, which at his behest makes him invisible. He uses it to escape the external sanctions of society-its laws and censure-and to serve his greed to the fullest. Glaucon asks whether it is not plausible to suppose that we all would do likewise. Then he offers a thought experiment that compares the life of the seemingly just (but unjust) man who is incredibly successful with the life of the seemingly unjust (but just) man who is incredibly unsuccessful. Which would we choose? Socrates counters that to be just is indeed always better than to be unjust. Immorality corrupts the inner person, making one truly worse off psychologically and spiritually.
-Glaucon says that the perfectly unjust man is one who

A) seems unjust but is just.
B) seems just but is unjust.
C) appears unjust and is unjust.
D) appears just and is just,

Answer 3

B

Question 4

In this selection Glaucon, who is Plato's older brother, asks Socrates whether justice is good in itself or only a necessary evil. Playing the devil's advocate, Glaucon puts forth the hypothesis that egotistic power-seeking in which we have complete freedom to indulge ourselves might be the ideal state of existence. However, the hypothesis continues, reason quickly shows us that others might seek to have the same power, which would interfere with our freedom and cause a state of chaos in which no one was likely to have any of one's desires fulfilled. So we compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. Justice or a system of morality is simply the result of that compromise. It has no intrinsic value but is better than chaos and worse than undisturbed power. It is better to compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. To illustrate his point, Glaucon tells the story of a shepherd named Gyges who comes upon a ring, which at his behest makes him invisible. He uses it to escape the external sanctions of society-its laws and censure-and to serve his greed to the fullest. Glaucon asks whether it is not plausible to suppose that we all would do likewise. Then he offers a thought experiment that compares the life of the seemingly just (but unjust) man who is incredibly successful with the life of the seemingly unjust (but just) man who is incredibly unsuccessful. Which would we choose? Socrates counters that to be just is indeed always better than to be unjust. Immorality corrupts the inner person, making one truly worse off psychologically and spiritually.
-Glaucon tries to show that compared to the seemingly unjust but actually just man, the seemingly just but actually unjust man is

A) less happy.
B) equally happy.
C) confused.
D) happier.

Question 5

In this selection Glaucon, who is Plato's older brother, asks Socrates whether justice is good in itself or only a necessary evil. Playing the devil's advocate, Glaucon puts forth the hypothesis that egotistic power-seeking in which we have complete freedom to indulge ourselves might be the ideal state of existence. However, the hypothesis continues, reason quickly shows us that others might seek to have the same power, which would interfere with our freedom and cause a state of chaos in which no one was likely to have any of one's desires fulfilled. So we compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. Justice or a system of morality is simply the result of that compromise. It has no intrinsic value but is better than chaos and worse than undisturbed power. It is better to compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. To illustrate his point, Glaucon tells the story of a shepherd named Gyges who comes upon a ring, which at his behest makes him invisible. He uses it to escape the external sanctions of society-its laws and censure-and to serve his greed to the fullest. Glaucon asks whether it is not plausible to suppose that we all would do likewise. Then he offers a thought experiment that compares the life of the seemingly just (but unjust) man who is incredibly successful with the life of the seemingly unjust (but just) man who is incredibly unsuccessful. Which would we choose? Socrates counters that to be just is indeed always better than to be unjust. Immorality corrupts the inner person, making one truly worse off psychologically and spiritually.
-Glaucon argues that justice is not intrinsically good.

Question 6

In this selection Glaucon, who is Plato's older brother, asks Socrates whether justice is good in itself or only a necessary evil. Playing the devil's advocate, Glaucon puts forth the hypothesis that egotistic power-seeking in which we have complete freedom to indulge ourselves might be the ideal state of existence. However, the hypothesis continues, reason quickly shows us that others might seek to have the same power, which would interfere with our freedom and cause a state of chaos in which no one was likely to have any of one's desires fulfilled. So we compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. Justice or a system of morality is simply the result of that compromise. It has no intrinsic value but is better than chaos and worse than undisturbed power. It is better to compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. To illustrate his point, Glaucon tells the story of a shepherd named Gyges who comes upon a ring, which at his behest makes him invisible. He uses it to escape the external sanctions of society-its laws and censure-and to serve his greed to the fullest. Glaucon asks whether it is not plausible to suppose that we all would do likewise. Then he offers a thought experiment that compares the life of the seemingly just (but unjust) man who is incredibly successful with the life of the seemingly unjust (but just) man who is incredibly unsuccessful. Which would we choose? Socrates counters that to be just is indeed always better than to be unjust. Immorality corrupts the inner person, making one truly worse off psychologically and spiritually.
-Socrates believes that it pays for a man to be perfectly unjust if he appears to be just.

Question 7

In this selection Glaucon, who is Plato's older brother, asks Socrates whether justice is good in itself or only a necessary evil. Playing the devil's advocate, Glaucon puts forth the hypothesis that egotistic power-seeking in which we have complete freedom to indulge ourselves might be the ideal state of existence. However, the hypothesis continues, reason quickly shows us that others might seek to have the same power, which would interfere with our freedom and cause a state of chaos in which no one was likely to have any of one's desires fulfilled. So we compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. Justice or a system of morality is simply the result of that compromise. It has no intrinsic value but is better than chaos and worse than undisturbed power. It is better to compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. To illustrate his point, Glaucon tells the story of a shepherd named Gyges who comes upon a ring, which at his behest makes him invisible. He uses it to escape the external sanctions of society-its laws and censure-and to serve his greed to the fullest. Glaucon asks whether it is not plausible to suppose that we all would do likewise. Then he offers a thought experiment that compares the life of the seemingly just (but unjust) man who is incredibly successful with the life of the seemingly unjust (but just) man who is incredibly unsuccessful. Which would we choose? Socrates counters that to be just is indeed always better than to be unjust. Immorality corrupts the inner person, making one truly worse off psychologically and spiritually.
-Socrates thinks that people should be ruled by morality, even if it must be imposed on them from without.

Question 8

In this selection Glaucon, who is Plato's older brother, asks Socrates whether justice is good in itself or only a necessary evil. Playing the devil's advocate, Glaucon puts forth the hypothesis that egotistic power-seeking in which we have complete freedom to indulge ourselves might be the ideal state of existence. However, the hypothesis continues, reason quickly shows us that others might seek to have the same power, which would interfere with our freedom and cause a state of chaos in which no one was likely to have any of one's desires fulfilled. So we compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. Justice or a system of morality is simply the result of that compromise. It has no intrinsic value but is better than chaos and worse than undisturbed power. It is better to compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. To illustrate his point, Glaucon tells the story of a shepherd named Gyges who comes upon a ring, which at his behest makes him invisible. He uses it to escape the external sanctions of society-its laws and censure-and to serve his greed to the fullest. Glaucon asks whether it is not plausible to suppose that we all would do likewise. Then he offers a thought experiment that compares the life of the seemingly just (but unjust) man who is incredibly successful with the life of the seemingly unjust (but just) man who is incredibly unsuccessful. Which would we choose? Socrates counters that to be just is indeed always better than to be unjust. Immorality corrupts the inner person, making one truly worse off psychologically and spiritually.
-Glaucon thinks that a man's getting away with injustice makes him worse.

Question 9

In this selection Glaucon, who is Plato's older brother, asks Socrates whether justice is good in itself or only a necessary evil. Playing the devil's advocate, Glaucon puts forth the hypothesis that egotistic power-seeking in which we have complete freedom to indulge ourselves might be the ideal state of existence. However, the hypothesis continues, reason quickly shows us that others might seek to have the same power, which would interfere with our freedom and cause a state of chaos in which no one was likely to have any of one's desires fulfilled. So we compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. Justice or a system of morality is simply the result of that compromise. It has no intrinsic value but is better than chaos and worse than undisturbed power. It is better to compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. To illustrate his point, Glaucon tells the story of a shepherd named Gyges who comes upon a ring, which at his behest makes him invisible. He uses it to escape the external sanctions of society-its laws and censure-and to serve his greed to the fullest. Glaucon asks whether it is not plausible to suppose that we all would do likewise. Then he offers a thought experiment that compares the life of the seemingly just (but unjust) man who is incredibly successful with the life of the seemingly unjust (but just) man who is incredibly unsuccessful. Which would we choose? Socrates counters that to be just is indeed always better than to be unjust. Immorality corrupts the inner person, making one truly worse off psychologically and spiritually.
-Socrates insists that there will be justice only when reason rules.

Question 10

In this selection Glaucon, who is Plato's older brother, asks Socrates whether justice is good in itself or only a necessary evil. Playing the devil's advocate, Glaucon puts forth the hypothesis that egotistic power-seeking in which we have complete freedom to indulge ourselves might be the ideal state of existence. However, the hypothesis continues, reason quickly shows us that others might seek to have the same power, which would interfere with our freedom and cause a state of chaos in which no one was likely to have any of one's desires fulfilled. So we compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. Justice or a system of morality is simply the result of that compromise. It has no intrinsic value but is better than chaos and worse than undisturbed power. It is better to compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. To illustrate his point, Glaucon tells the story of a shepherd named Gyges who comes upon a ring, which at his behest makes him invisible. He uses it to escape the external sanctions of society-its laws and censure-and to serve his greed to the fullest. Glaucon asks whether it is not plausible to suppose that we all would do likewise. Then he offers a thought experiment that compares the life of the seemingly just (but unjust) man who is incredibly successful with the life of the seemingly unjust (but just) man who is incredibly unsuccessful. Which would we choose? Socrates counters that to be just is indeed always better than to be unjust. Immorality corrupts the inner person, making one truly worse off psychologically and spiritually.
-Gyges uses the ring to escape the laws and morals of society and to serve his greed.

Question 11

In this selection Glaucon, who is Plato's older brother, asks Socrates whether justice is good in itself or only a necessary evil. Playing the devil's advocate, Glaucon puts forth the hypothesis that egotistic power-seeking in which we have complete freedom to indulge ourselves might be the ideal state of existence. However, the hypothesis continues, reason quickly shows us that others might seek to have the same power, which would interfere with our freedom and cause a state of chaos in which no one was likely to have any of one's desires fulfilled. So we compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. Justice or a system of morality is simply the result of that compromise. It has no intrinsic value but is better than chaos and worse than undisturbed power. It is better to compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. To illustrate his point, Glaucon tells the story of a shepherd named Gyges who comes upon a ring, which at his behest makes him invisible. He uses it to escape the external sanctions of society-its laws and censure-and to serve his greed to the fullest. Glaucon asks whether it is not plausible to suppose that we all would do likewise. Then he offers a thought experiment that compares the life of the seemingly just (but unjust) man who is incredibly successful with the life of the seemingly unjust (but just) man who is incredibly unsuccessful. Which would we choose? Socrates counters that to be just is indeed always better than to be unjust. Immorality corrupts the inner person, making one truly worse off psychologically and spiritually.
-Socrates thinks that all people are corrupt.

Question 12

In this selection Glaucon, who is Plato's older brother, asks Socrates whether justice is good in itself or only a necessary evil. Playing the devil's advocate, Glaucon puts forth the hypothesis that egotistic power-seeking in which we have complete freedom to indulge ourselves might be the ideal state of existence. However, the hypothesis continues, reason quickly shows us that others might seek to have the same power, which would interfere with our freedom and cause a state of chaos in which no one was likely to have any of one's desires fulfilled. So we compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. Justice or a system of morality is simply the result of that compromise. It has no intrinsic value but is better than chaos and worse than undisturbed power. It is better to compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. To illustrate his point, Glaucon tells the story of a shepherd named Gyges who comes upon a ring, which at his behest makes him invisible. He uses it to escape the external sanctions of society-its laws and censure-and to serve his greed to the fullest. Glaucon asks whether it is not plausible to suppose that we all would do likewise. Then he offers a thought experiment that compares the life of the seemingly just (but unjust) man who is incredibly successful with the life of the seemingly unjust (but just) man who is incredibly unsuccessful. Which would we choose? Socrates counters that to be just is indeed always better than to be unjust. Immorality corrupts the inner person, making one truly worse off psychologically and spiritually.
-Socrates argues that it is to our advantage to be moral.

Question 13

In this selection Glaucon, who is Plato's older brother, asks Socrates whether justice is good in itself or only a necessary evil. Playing the devil's advocate, Glaucon puts forth the hypothesis that egotistic power-seeking in which we have complete freedom to indulge ourselves might be the ideal state of existence. However, the hypothesis continues, reason quickly shows us that others might seek to have the same power, which would interfere with our freedom and cause a state of chaos in which no one was likely to have any of one's desires fulfilled. So we compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. Justice or a system of morality is simply the result of that compromise. It has no intrinsic value but is better than chaos and worse than undisturbed power. It is better to compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. To illustrate his point, Glaucon tells the story of a shepherd named Gyges who comes upon a ring, which at his behest makes him invisible. He uses it to escape the external sanctions of society-its laws and censure-and to serve his greed to the fullest. Glaucon asks whether it is not plausible to suppose that we all would do likewise. Then he offers a thought experiment that compares the life of the seemingly just (but unjust) man who is incredibly successful with the life of the seemingly unjust (but just) man who is incredibly unsuccessful. Which would we choose? Socrates counters that to be just is indeed always better than to be unjust. Immorality corrupts the inner person, making one truly worse off psychologically and spiritually.
-Glaucon holds that immorality corrupts the inner person.

Question 14

In this selection Glaucon, who is Plato's older brother, asks Socrates whether justice is good in itself or only a necessary evil. Playing the devil's advocate, Glaucon puts forth the hypothesis that egotistic power-seeking in which we have complete freedom to indulge ourselves might be the ideal state of existence. However, the hypothesis continues, reason quickly shows us that others might seek to have the same power, which would interfere with our freedom and cause a state of chaos in which no one was likely to have any of one's desires fulfilled. So we compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. Justice or a system of morality is simply the result of that compromise. It has no intrinsic value but is better than chaos and worse than undisturbed power. It is better to compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. To illustrate his point, Glaucon tells the story of a shepherd named Gyges who comes upon a ring, which at his behest makes him invisible. He uses it to escape the external sanctions of society-its laws and censure-and to serve his greed to the fullest. Glaucon asks whether it is not plausible to suppose that we all would do likewise. Then he offers a thought experiment that compares the life of the seemingly just (but unjust) man who is incredibly successful with the life of the seemingly unjust (but just) man who is incredibly unsuccessful. Which would we choose? Socrates counters that to be just is indeed always better than to be unjust. Immorality corrupts the inner person, making one truly worse off psychologically and spiritually.
-Socrates finally convinces Glaucon to strive to be moral whether or not morality is advantageous.

Question 15

In this selection Glaucon, who is Plato's older brother, asks Socrates whether justice is good in itself or only a necessary evil. Playing the devil's advocate, Glaucon puts forth the hypothesis that egotistic power-seeking in which we have complete freedom to indulge ourselves might be the ideal state of existence. However, the hypothesis continues, reason quickly shows us that others might seek to have the same power, which would interfere with our freedom and cause a state of chaos in which no one was likely to have any of one's desires fulfilled. So we compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. Justice or a system of morality is simply the result of that compromise. It has no intrinsic value but is better than chaos and worse than undisturbed power. It is better to compromise and limit our acquisitive instincts. To illustrate his point, Glaucon tells the story of a shepherd named Gyges who comes upon a ring, which at his behest makes him invisible. He uses it to escape the external sanctions of society-its laws and censure-and to serve his greed to the fullest. Glaucon asks whether it is not plausible to suppose that we all would do likewise. Then he offers a thought experiment that compares the life of the seemingly just (but unjust) man who is incredibly successful with the life of the seemingly unjust (but just) man who is incredibly unsuccessful. Which would we choose? Socrates counters that to be just is indeed always better than to be unjust. Immorality corrupts the inner person, making one truly worse off psychologically and spiritually.
-Socrates believes that being good is good for you.