Who Do You Want to Be?
Who Do You Want to Be?
What Shall We Eat?
We have now seen four moral views, one that is based on maximizing pleasure (Utilitarianism), and one that is focused on building the virtues (Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics), another that emphasizes moral duty (Deontology), and finally one that is based in God’s commands (Divine Command Theory). But why should we even want to live a good life? So what if Utilitarianism or Deontology is the correct moral theory – why should I even do what is right to begin with? Today, we will look at Plato’s response to this question and Glaucon’s counterargument in the Ring of Gyges.
Goals
By the end of the lecture, you will:
- Understand why Plato thinks justice is both instrumentally and intrinsically valuable
- Explain Glaucon’s response to Plato using the Ring of Gyges
- Articulate whether you think it is worse to suffer injustice or to do injustice
Read This:
- Read the The Value of Shame Essay
Do This:
Complete these questions in your notes before you come to class. Once you have completed them, you will be ready for anything that HQ Trivia throws at you!
- What position does Socrates argue for? Does he argue that being a just person is instrumentally valuable, intrinsically valuable, or both?
- What position does Glaucon argue for? Does he argue that being a just person is instrumentally valuable, intrinsically valuable, or both?
- What point is Glaucon trying to make with his tale of the Ring of Gyges?
- Where does Glaucon thinks justice comes from? How does this relate to Social Contract theories of justice?
An Argument on the Immorality of Having Children
Plato was Socrates’s most famous student and was deeply influenced by his views of how the love of truth fits in with the good life. In this class session, we will introduce you to Plato’s most famous dialogue — The Republic — which features Socrates’ in his questioning element. We’ll read the famous Allegory of the Cave and discuss different views we might have to “converting” others in a philosophical debate.
Goals
By the end of the lecture, you will:
- Understand Plato’s vision of truth in the Allegory of the Cave
- Consider how truth can often be transformative
- Debate whether we have moral obligations to “return to the cave” as Plato suggests at the end of the dialogue.
Read This:
- Read the Allegory of the Cave Interactive Essay
Do This:
Complete these questions in your notes before you come to class. Once you have completed them, you will be ready for anything that HQ Trivia throws at you!
- In the Allegory of the Cave, what first happens to those who emerge from the cave? Are they able to comprehend the truth?
- Does Plato think that we should return to the cave once we are enlightened? Why or why not?
- What happens to those who are enlightened when they return to the cave? Is there testimony accepted by those who remained in the cave?
Escape Your Cave
Plato was Socrates’s most famous student and was deeply influenced by his views of how the love of truth fits in with the good life. In this class session, we will introduce you to Plato’s most famous dialogue — The Republic — which features Socrates’ in his questioning element. We’ll read the famous Allegory of the Cave and discuss different views we might have to “converting” others in a philosophical debate.
Goals
By the end of the lecture, you will:
- Understand Plato’s vision of truth in the Allegory of the Cave
- Consider how truth can often be transformative
- Debate whether we have moral obligations to “return to the cave” as Plato suggests at the end of the dialogue.
Read This:
- Read the Work (PDF) Essay
Do This:
Complete these questions in your notes before you come to class. Once you have completed them, you will be ready for anything that HQ Trivia throws at you!
- In the Allegory of the Cave, what first happens to those who emerge from the cave? Are they able to comprehend the truth?
- Does Plato think that we should return to the cave once we are enlightened? Why or why not?
- What happens to those who are enlightened when they return to the cave? Is there testimony accepted by those who remained in the cave?
Escape Your Cave
Plato was Socrates’s most famous student and was deeply influenced by his views of how the love of truth fits in with the good life. In this class session, we will introduce you to Plato’s most famous dialogue — The Republic — which features Socrates’ in his questioning element. We’ll read the famous Allegory of the Cave and discuss different views we might have to “converting” others in a philosophical debate.
Goals
By the end of the lecture, you will:
- Understand Plato’s vision of truth in the Allegory of the Cave
- Consider how truth can often be transformative
- Debate whether we have moral obligations to “return to the cave” as Plato suggests at the end of the dialogue.
Do This:
Complete these questions in your notes before you come to class. Once you have completed them, you will be ready for anything that HQ Trivia throws at you!
- In the Allegory of the Cave, what first happens to those who emerge from the cave? Are they able to comprehend the truth?
- Does Plato think that we should return to the cave once we are enlightened? Why or why not?
- What happens to those who are enlightened when they return to the cave? Is there testimony accepted by those who remained in the cave?