Glaucon vs. Socrates
Glaucon vs. Socrates
In Book Two of The Republic, Glaucon tests Socrates view of justice. Socrates believes that “injustice is never more profitable than justice” (31). With this, he describes how the good life is determined by whether you are just or unjust. Socrates explains how justice is observed through the genuine acts of human character; justice is evaluated by how morally right one is. Glaucon however challenges this idea, as he wishes to be shown why being just is desirable. He trusts that we as humans naturally act just because the scare of punishment. Glaucon reasons that if the fear of getting penalized was removed, if punishment was not at all possible, then we would do anything we wanted whenever we wanted to without hesitation. Glaucon argues that it is always and only external constraints that keep us from acting unjustly. To emphasize his point, Glaucon uses an example of two men and two magic rings. Both men are given the rings in which make them invisible. Once the just man is in possession of this ring, he is able to act unjustly with no fear of retaliation, the same as the unjust man would. With this, Glaucon states that the “actions of the just would be as the actions of the unjust; they would both come at last to the same point” (526). Therefore, the just man would be no greater than the unjust man. If you are never going to receive punishment, then who truly is living the “good life?” The unjust man who never gets caught or the just one? Glaucon claims that even the most just man would behave unjustly if he had owned such ring. This point proves that people are just only because they are afraid of punishment for being unjust, not because justice is desirable in itself. Secondly, Glaucon argues that it is really only the appearance of justice that matters- not actual justice. As stated by Glaucon, he explains “that it pays for a man to be perfectly unjust if he appears to be just” (528). He presents the idea that the perfectly
In Book Two of The Republic, Glaucon tests Socrates view of justice. Socrates believes that “injustice is never more profitable than justice” (31). With this, he describes how the good life is determined by whether you are just or unjust. Socrates explains how justice is observed through the genuine acts of human character; justice is evaluated by how morally right one is. Glaucon however challenges this idea, as he wishes to be shown why being just is desirable. He trusts that we as humans naturally act just because the scare of punishment. Glaucon reasons that if the fear of getting penalized was removed, if punishment was not at all possible, then we would do anything we wanted whenever we wanted to without hesitation. Glaucon argues that it is always and only external constraints that keep us from acting unjustly. To emphasize his point, Glaucon uses an example of two men and two magic rings. Both men are given the rings in which make them invisible. Once the just man is in possession of this ring, he is able to act unjustly with no fear of retaliation, the same as the unjust man would. With this, Glaucon states that the “actions of the just would be as the actions of the unjust; they would both come at last to the same point” (526). Therefore, the just man would be no greater than the unjust man. If you are never going to receive punishment, then who truly is living the “good life?” The unjust man who never gets caught or the just one? Glaucon claims that even the most just man would behave unjustly if he had owned such ring. This point proves that people are just only because they are afraid of punishment for being unjust, not because justice is desirable in itself. Secondly, Glaucon argues that it is really only the appearance of justice that matters- not actual justice. As stated by Glaucon, he explains “that it pays for a man to be perfectly unjust if he appears to be just” (528). He presents the idea that the perfectly