Context and ideals (Plato, The Republic)

Question 1

What is the story of Gyges’s ring?

Answer 1

Gyges is a shepherd who was in service for the king of Lydia. After a storm, he found a ring that gave him the power of invisibility. He used this power to be many immoral things that benefitted him, such as seducing the queen, killing the king, and overtaking the kingdom.

Thought experiment = an experiment carried out only in the imagination

First thought experiment:
Plato then says to imagine that there are 2 rings, and a just and unjust person each put one on. The actions of the just would be the same as the unjust. Therefore, humans are only just out of necessity.

Second thought experiment:
To be a just person yet your reputation is unjust vs. being an unjust person yet your reputation is just. People prefer to be unjust with a reputation of being just. Therefore, humans act justly out of appearances.

Question 2

Name and explain the various elements in Plato’s allegory of the cave, what is the point of the allegory?

Answer 2

ESSAY.