Gorgias Flashcards
Outline Socrates and Callicles positions on the contemptibility of being punished and doing wrong
Socrates- doing wrong is more contemptible
Callicles- being punished is more contemptible
Explain Callicles view on natural and conventional law
Natural law is how Callicles thinks we should live, the stronger should dominate the weak and pursue any pleasure they desire. Conventional law is propagated by the weak masses to prevent the strong from thriving, such as the goodness of equality
Why is philosophy bad?
It deprives individuals of the capacity to interact with the community and subsequently earn distinction
What are the three things that make Callicles a perfect interlocutor?
His candour, knowledge and affection
Outline the naturalistic fallacy and how it counters Callicles view of natural law
Just because something is a certain way doesn’t mean it should be that way. In the case of Callicles, despite nature endorsing natural law, this does not mean it is, therefore, a good thing for people to do
Counter to temperant life being a good life (4)
One may commit crimes or wrongs for a greater good or out of necessity not because they live an unbalanced life.
A life that is overly ordered and balanced could be boring and predictable. I think this is a good point as the goal of every action should be to produce good, if one is unhappy about ones’ life how are they to do this.
One may commit crimes in a very organized and ordered way. Committing crimes doesn’t have to result from an unbalanced life.
Punishment does not always result in a repaired soul, this way too idealistic. Furthermore, there are others way to help organise one’s mind than punishment, therapy for example
Counters to natural life being a good life (3)
Cooperation is present amongst animals, shark allow small fish to eat their parasites thus protecting them, the shark could decimate the fish but both species gain more from this
Primitive humans work together to gain food, despite discrepancies in superiority
Natural Fallacy
Counters to Socrates mob of weak being stronger argument
Very potent counter, a pride of lions can kill a water buffalo despite it being stronger individually
Could extend this by saying more people could be more convincing
Counter to Callicles stating we shouldn’t concede to anyone including ourselves
We cannot, therefore, assure happiness as we have no control over our lives. Following each whim may lead to less pleasure/happiness in the long wrong: lonely bachelor life compared to marriage and a family
Hedonistic lifestyle doesn’t seem necessarily happy, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton
Leaky Jar Counter
If one controlled and limited their desires so that they remained satisfied with life it would be boring because you would have nothing to work towards (once your jar was full). This is why Callicles says that you would be like a corpse or a stone. Perhaps what makes life meaningful is that we have to keep working to satisfy desires.
Those with balanced lives have more desires because of this, mid-life crises, cheating on spouses despite comfortable, balanced life.
Counter Bad and Good Pleasures
Catamite and Itching, this isn’t what Callicles is saying, he says who should follow your desires, no one would desire to spend their lived itching and scratching, prostitutes work to get money
Counters to Organised like a Ship
Ambiguity of Good
Boring Organised Life compromised one’s ability to produce good
Organised Criminals
