“Then a slice of our neighbours’ land will be wanted by us for pasture and tillage, and they will want a slice of ours, if, like ourselves, they exceed the limit of necessity, and give themselves up to the unlimited accumulation of wealth?” In this passage, Socrates compares a simple city with a luxurious one and explores the consequences that are likely to follow when a simple city becomes luxurious. First, Socrates sketches his vision of the ideal city; a simple communitarian society where the basic needs of everyone are …
The Ring of Gyges and the Advantages of Injustice – a short reading from Plato’s Republic
“Gods and men are said to unite in making the life of the unjust better than the life of the just.” This passage from Book II of Plato’s Republic raises a number of questions about human nature and the nature of justice: Is the life of the unjust man happier than man who is just? Are people inherently selfish? Is justice good for it’s own sake or because it leads to good consequences? What exactly is justice? The two speakers in this section of the dialogue are Glaucon and Socrates. …
Can Virtue Be Taught? – a short reading from Plato’s Meno
“Once more, I suspect, friend Anytus, that virtue is not a thing which can be taught?” Introduction This week’s reading is about whether virtue can be taught. Now you may have noticed that there are some good people, or as Socrates would say, virtuous people, and there are some not so good people, or as I would say, arseholes. So we might ask: how did the good or virtuous people become virtuous? One possibility was that they were born that way; they’re just naturally good. Another possibility is that they …
On Our Obligation to Obey the Law – a short reading from Plato’s Crito
“Do you imagine that a state can subsist and not be overthrown, in which the decisions of law have no power, but are set aside and trampled upon by individuals?” Introduction In the year 399 B.C., in Athens, Socrates was brought to trial on charges of impiety and corrupting the youth. He was found guilty and condemned to death. The Crito, written by Plato, is a dialogue between Socrates and his good friend Crito. It is set in Socrates’ jail cell the day before he is due to be executed. …
The origin of misology: Why some people hate rational argument – a classic reading from Plato’s Phaedo
“For as there are misanthropists or haters of men, there are also misologists or haters of ideas, and both spring from the same cause, which is ignorance of the world.” — Plato, Phaedo Introduction For those of us who spend too much time online or on social media, it can sometimes feel like we are bombarded by an almost endless stream of contradictory arguments. In this passage, Socrates urges us to recognize that many arguments which initially seem persuasive often fall apart under closer analysis. Once we realize how easily …