Glaucon

Republic that pertains to the story of the Ring of Gyges, as well as offer a criticism of the argument. In the Republic, Glaucon asks Socrates to defend justice and prove that justice is better than injustice. More specifically, Glaucon wants Socrates to prove that not only are the outcomes of justice desired, but that justice itself is desired, rather than being a burden. Glaucon uses the tale of the Ring of Gyges to support his explanation of why justice is not preferred over injustice. In the…

The legend of Gyges is a Story told by a man named Glaucon to Socrates that depicts the story of a shepherd name Gyges who finds a magic ring. In the story there is a great storm that erupts followed by an earthquake that splits the ground in two prompting Gyges to climb down into the earth. Inside the earth he finds a hollow bronze horse with what he descripts as a “dead body of stature” (28) with a “more than a human” (28) appearance inside the horse. On the body of stature Gyges finds only a…

“What’s the difference between here—America—and Vietnam?” I received this question every time someone found out that I was born and raised in Vietnam. Before I came to America, I lived in a Communist country that controlled almost every aspect of your life. I had to go to a state approved school—which my family had to pay for—that propagated a lot of media that shows America as an evil country. I grew up in an environment where your future occupation is usually the occupation of your father or…

its ideals as a virtue (as expressed by Socrates to resolve Thrasymachus's definition); Glaucon extends his argument of justice to include the concept of the Three Kinds of Goods. As explained, all goods can be divided into three classes: as a mere means such as physical labor, as an end akin to joy, and as both a means and an end comparable to maintaining knowledge (Plato 32 [II]). Each assertion made by Glaucon, is an attempt to solicit the most authentic form of what justice is and to…

and more masterful than justice. And, as I said from the beginning, justice is what is advantageous for the stronger, while injustice is profitable and advantageous for oneself.” (344c) He says this ultimately leading to the restated argument by Glaucon that concludes “For the life of the unjust person, is, they say much better than that of the just one.” (362c) At first this can be hard to digest seeing as though people aim to be just for the good of it. However, after being shown that the just…

Are humans being decent? Or do we act just because we have no choice? Well, that is the logic behind the famous story of the Ring of Gyges. The Ring of Gyges was a challenge poses by Glaucon to Socrates. Glaucon wanted to rend Socrates defenseless against injustice, and that was not only his intentions. He also wanted to demonstrate that justice is ruled by injustice, to such a great extend he proposed the following story ("Summary of Plato’s Ring of Gyges"). Gyges, a royal shepherd, found a…

combatting injustice, etc.). Glaucon’s defense of psychologically egoistic motivation is only useful to recognize that human beings harbor a degree of self-preservation (i.e., to guard oneself from harm and fatality). I will first describe both Glaucon and Mencius’ assertions and the examples they used to substantiate their claims. Second, I will discuss how their fundamental concepts differ. Last, I will detail why Mencius’ argument maintains the most…

Glaucon is unsatisfied with the argument between Thrasymachus and Socrates regarding Justice. Thrasymachus believes Justice is for the common good, it is not for the good for an individual, that any compromise is involved. Glaucon renews Thrasymachus’ argument, he divides the good into three classes: things good in themselves, things good both in themselves and for their consequences, and things good only for their consequences. Socrates places justice in the class of things good in themselves…

virtue, which is justice. In the argument between Socrates and Glaucon about the four required virtues in the ideal city, they talk about the process of the virtues to find justice. Socrates begins by stating the key virtues for the ideal city: Socrates: Clearly then, it is wise, courageous, moderate, and just. Glaucon: Clearly. Socrates: Then, if we find any of these in it, what’s left over will be the ones we haven’t found? Glaucon: Of course. Socrates: Therefore, as with any other four…

In Book II of the Republic of Plato, Glaucon and Adeimantus classify goods into three categories. They then ask Socrates to prove that justice is of the highest class. That justice is desirable for its consequence and its own sake emphasizing the latter point. In order to help answer this challenge, Plato divides the soul in three parts that correspond to the three social classes found in the perfect state. Plato argues that justice is the health of the soul so justice is desirable for itself.…