1.Opening Discussion: Pgs 61-79 In the opening discussion of Plato at the Googleplex we are introduced to a few of Plato’s philosophical arguments presented in a modern and refreshing way. There are four main characters that persist in this discussion: Rhonda, Cheryl, Plato, and Marcus. Rhonda who is the narrator relays to the reader the encounter her friend Cheryl had with Plato and Marcus at the Googleplex. The opening discussion begins with Cheryl meeting Ronda at a Hotel bar; there she begins to relay her encounter she had with the Philosopher Plato.…
Who Wouldn't If a situation arises that someone could get away with something that is wrong or unjust without getting caught chances are a majority of those people may do it. It can be a very tempting situation if you are invisible in a shop and a very expensive item catches your eye and you know that you could very easily take it withouT anyone knowing who did it. In the story of Gyges ring, Gyges finds a ring and puts it on eventually realizing that if he turns it he will become invisible. knowing this Gyges took advantage of the rings capabilities and used it to his advantage in an unjust way, just like many people would do with an opportunity such as this. Gyges ring tells how the temptation to do wrong is significant when the perfect…
He tricks his companions into fulfilling his desire of meeting with his wife again. While the great warrior Odysseus lead his crew…
Today, whether on television, the internet, radio, newspapers, billboards, or in theaters, art can be found just about everywhere. In Plato's time, however, art would have been a lot more scarce. For example, instead of being written in books, poetry would generally take the form of spoken word, especially during festivals and events. Plato believed, however, that these forms of art including poetry, tragedies, and paintings were actually harmful to the average man or woman, and that these arts were dangerous due to the glamorization of outward appearances and irresponsible behaviour. He believed that art only reflected these outward appearances, and not necessarily the reality.…
Human thought, activity and organization of life all suggest that order exists in this universe. The ability people have to limit chaos and develop systems that encourage teamwork and prosperity is astounding. Although sin can limit the scope of manmade order, humankind has done an adequate job of using their brains to come up with processes in order to deal with their surrounding environment and fellow people. This can be seen throughout history, all the way from the beginning of everything up to modern times. In order to understand this truth, an examination of order in biblical creation, as understood by Plato, and order during the founding of the United States of America will be held.…
Good Verses Bad Is it better to be good with a bad reputation or to be bad and have a good reputation? In the story Gyges’ Ring, Plato talks about if it is better to be good or better to follow your own desires. In the tale, he explains how Gyges finds a ring that provides him with the power to be invisible. He uses this ring to seduce the king’s wife, and convinces her to help kill her husband. After he gets help to kill the king he takes over the realm.…
As human beings we test our limits. For good and for bad. Glaucon says to do wrong is naturally good, to be wronged is bad. The joy you would get from doing wrong doesn't last long and the pain from being wronged lasts a long time. As a result, we created the justice system.…
Glaucon, assumes that with this illustration that he will prove that all men will follow their own self interests, like all animals instinctively do. The illustration that Glaucon, uses is of Gyges, a shepherd in service to his king Lydia. During his time tending the flock Gyges finds himself in a horrible storm, and earthquake that splits the earth. Amazed by what he sees he goes into the hole and finds all sorts of treasures. Including a ring that was on the finger of a corps that he then takes from the grave and ascends…
In Plato's The Republic: Book II, Glaucon wants to know what the meaning of justice is so he goes on to converse more about the just and unjust with Socrates. Glaucon starts off by saying that he believes that there are three types of classes that can define good. The first one is the things that one desires because of the consequences, the second one is the things that one wants for their own interest, and the third one is the things we want for both, the consequences and interest. What Glaucon is trying to prove to Socrates is that for humans to be unjust is more desirable than to be just and that it is reasonable for humans to think so. In this essay I will analyze Galucon's reasons to his statement and counter argue his points.…
The Phaedo is perhaps one of the most well-known dialogues written by the ancient Greek philosopher, Plato. This dialogue recounts Socrates’ final hours before his death as told by Phaedo of Elis, one of the philosophers present during that time. Along with him were Crito and two other Pythagorean philosophers, Simmias and Cebes. The main focus of this dialogue is on the subject of immortality and the soul, and whether or not the soul will survive death. Socrates provides four arguments in which he aims to prove that the soul is in fact immortal.…
He goes on a deranged quest to find immortality, a gift that he was warned against finding. He encounters people akin to his possible futures, and both embidy the kinds of oaths he can take in his life. His failures ultimately describe humanity's tendency to turn a blind eye on very real problems, no matter how many warning signs there may be. Gilgamesh's story proves ignorance can really be…
Within this story, Gyges, a righteous shepherd, finds a ring that turns him invisible when the collet was turned inward. Using this power to his advantage, Gyges “committed adultery with the king’s wife and, along with her, set upon the king and killed him” (360a). Since nobody can see his personal desires while he is invisible, Gyges can act as he pleases while still maintaining an outward reputation of being an honorable shepherd and king when he eventually takes the throne after murdering the original king. Through the story of the Ring of Gyges, Glaucon implies that all people would act unrighteous if they were given the ring, even those who claim to be the most righteous and just. Similarly to how Gyges was shown as a just man even though he was unjust in his private thoughts and actions, Adeimantus also describes how this pattern continues by depicting the man who is unjust privately but is revered publicly.…
Philosophy is commonly known as “the love of wisdom.” While Plato, who by no means neglected the importance of wisdom, would agree that this common belief is a part of philosophy, he showed it to be much more than that. “The love of wisdom” is an incomplete definition of philosophy. Through his Socratic dialogues, Plato sought to work through each incomplete definition of something to reach the essence of things, which is perhaps is another keystone of philosophy. But, if one were to consider the essence of philosophy, one would see how it becomes complex to define exactly what philosophy is.…
In the Republic the state is more important than the individual. The state uses the principle of specialization to separate individuals into three classes. Individuals are evaluated and classified in so that the state can keep the structure of society. Plato the philosopher contends this classification brings the most efficiency and productivity to society. Individuals are not able to make decisions on how they want to be placed in society.…
Human nature is a theory that’s been a debated for centuries upon centuries. Philosophers have argued the concept for as long humans have been on this earth. Perhaps none the wiser than Plato, Socrates and Aristotle .The seemingly underlying truth is that there are characteristics; thinking, acting, feeling. That we all experience consciously or sub-consciously that make humans do the things that they do.…