Lawrence Zhang (SID 25737511)
Phil 25A First Paper
GSI: Rachel Rudolph
1 October 2014
Socrates ' argument on the ability to measure pleasure and pain In Protagoras, Socrates argues that we sometimes make bad decisions and actions based on our ignorance and inability to measure good and bad. His argument draws upon the assumption that we will always do what we perceive will bring us the most pleasure, yet many of us are incapable of measuring which path will bring us the most pleasure (357a). In the following essay, I will first attempt to explain Socrates ' process for this argument. Secondly, I will explain how the premises, if accepted, entail the conclusion that he has made. Socrates argues that we may fail to do the right things due to …show more content…
As he states to Protagoras, "the power of appearance often makes us wander all over the place confused and regretting our actions and choices" while "the art of measurement, in contrast, would make the appearances lose their power by showing us the truth" (356d-e). As assumed earlier, human beings will always do what they believe to be good and pleasurable. However, upon choosing which path would bring the most pleasure and least pain, most will naturally accept the illusion that the power of appearance holds over them. Those who can look past the illusion, though, can measure the actual value of pleasure and pain that such a path would bring (356d-e). This measurement in and of itself is a knowledge (357b). Thus, when we fail to do the right thing, it is because we do not know how to use the art of measurement to determine what course will bring us the ultimate pleasure. This ability to use measurement over the power of appearance indicates wisdom and knowledge that the power of appearance does not reveal the truth, while the inability to do so indicates ignorance of the same fact (357c-e). As such, the wise are capable of calculating what is truly good and most pleasurable and act accordingly, while the ignorant are incapable, and only act on what "appears" to be good and pleasurable to …show more content…
Not taking into account the validity of Socrates ' premises, the argument that Socrates makes holds true based on his assumptions made in the beginning. If the right and the good is always what ends up bringing us the most pleasure, then it does not matter that pleasure and pain differs between everyone. If good and bad, right and wrong are arbitrary, based on pleasure and pain, then there is no universal good or bad, right or wrong. Each person will always willingly act toward their belief of what is good and right, and will never act willingly toward their belief of what is bad and wrong. Likewise, they have their own belief as to what is bad and wrong, and will never willingly act towards that belief (358d). This means that the only way for someone to act in a manner that brings more pain or less pleasure is if they do not know that the net result in the end is as such. This ties into Socrates ' premise on the power of appearance. If one does not know how to calculate and measure which outcome will bring a net result of the most pleasure and least pain, then they will resort to what appears to bring them the most pleasure and least pain. Even if they know that there is pain to come after pleasure or pleasure out of pain, if they do not know how to measure them to find out which is greater, then their perception of pleasure or pain is naturally deviant and based more on the appearance than the
Phil 25A First Paper
GSI: Rachel Rudolph
1 October 2014
Socrates ' argument on the ability to measure pleasure and pain In Protagoras, Socrates argues that we sometimes make bad decisions and actions based on our ignorance and inability to measure good and bad. His argument draws upon the assumption that we will always do what we perceive will bring us the most pleasure, yet many of us are incapable of measuring which path will bring us the most pleasure (357a). In the following essay, I will first attempt to explain Socrates ' process for this argument. Secondly, I will explain how the premises, if accepted, entail the conclusion that he has made. Socrates argues that we may fail to do the right things due to …show more content…
As he states to Protagoras, "the power of appearance often makes us wander all over the place confused and regretting our actions and choices" while "the art of measurement, in contrast, would make the appearances lose their power by showing us the truth" (356d-e). As assumed earlier, human beings will always do what they believe to be good and pleasurable. However, upon choosing which path would bring the most pleasure and least pain, most will naturally accept the illusion that the power of appearance holds over them. Those who can look past the illusion, though, can measure the actual value of pleasure and pain that such a path would bring (356d-e). This measurement in and of itself is a knowledge (357b). Thus, when we fail to do the right thing, it is because we do not know how to use the art of measurement to determine what course will bring us the ultimate pleasure. This ability to use measurement over the power of appearance indicates wisdom and knowledge that the power of appearance does not reveal the truth, while the inability to do so indicates ignorance of the same fact (357c-e). As such, the wise are capable of calculating what is truly good and most pleasurable and act accordingly, while the ignorant are incapable, and only act on what "appears" to be good and pleasurable to …show more content…
Not taking into account the validity of Socrates ' premises, the argument that Socrates makes holds true based on his assumptions made in the beginning. If the right and the good is always what ends up bringing us the most pleasure, then it does not matter that pleasure and pain differs between everyone. If good and bad, right and wrong are arbitrary, based on pleasure and pain, then there is no universal good or bad, right or wrong. Each person will always willingly act toward their belief of what is good and right, and will never act willingly toward their belief of what is bad and wrong. Likewise, they have their own belief as to what is bad and wrong, and will never willingly act towards that belief (358d). This means that the only way for someone to act in a manner that brings more pain or less pleasure is if they do not know that the net result in the end is as such. This ties into Socrates ' premise on the power of appearance. If one does not know how to calculate and measure which outcome will bring a net result of the most pleasure and least pain, then they will resort to what appears to bring them the most pleasure and least pain. Even if they know that there is pain to come after pleasure or pleasure out of pain, if they do not know how to measure them to find out which is greater, then their perception of pleasure or pain is naturally deviant and based more on the appearance than the