Glaucon in the Republic - 1047 Words

In Platos Republic, Glaucon is introduced to the reader as a man who loves honor, sex, and luxury. As The Republic progresses through books and Socrates arguments of how and why these flaws make the soul unhappy began to piece together, Glaucon relates some of these cases to his own life, and begins to see how Socrates line of reasoning makes more sense than his own. Once Glaucon comes to this realization, he embarks on a path of change on his outlook of what happiness is, and this change is evidenced by the way he responds during he and Socrates discourse. The first change in character begins with Glaucons position on whether or not the unjust soul is happier than the just soul. This is seen in Book 4, 445b, when he argues†¦show more content†¦Glaucons statement indicates fear Ââ€" he worries about going back down to the cave or, returning to his former ignorance. This shows that Glaucon has not only embraced the idea of the cave, differing from his initial confusion, but he has also realized and accepted the truth and reasoning of Socrates. He has become the cave dweller who has been given the chance to escape, and he now fears going back. The next example of Glaucons transformation is during Book 9, 576e, when he states that there is no city more wretched than one ruled by a tyrantÂ…. Socrates is discussing how the four types of inferior souls bring about the ruin of the city. He then poses to Glaucon the question of whether a city ruled by a tyrant or philosopher-king is happier, in which he compels Glaucon to examine the whole of the city, and not just one or a few people who are a part of it, (or, the whole of the soul and not just one part over the exclusion of others). Glaucons response demonstrates that he now sees that the one who possesses power and riches is, in reality, is unhappy than the one who possesses knowledge and truth of self and the forms. He is answering his own question that he introduced in Book 2, and his answer is that the most just man, who is the philosopher-king in this dialogue, is happiest. The unjust man, being the tyrant, is unhappiest. This is expanded when Glaucon ranks the five actors in accordance to their contentment as heShow MoreRelatedThe Republic, Socrates And Glaucon1244 Words   |  5 PagesYezhen Li Professor David Goldman Philosophy 1300 11 September 2014 First Paper In sections 433-445 of The Republic , Socrates and Glaucon discuss about definitions and properties of both justice and injustice, with reference to the structure and condition of an ideal city with absolute justice. Considering the properties of justice and injustice, they conclude that just lives, even without anything desirable, are better than any other unjust lives. To start off, Socrates discusses about a justRead MoreThe Life Of Plato s Republic, Glaucon And Adeimantus1410 Words   |  6 Pages In Book II of Plato’s Republic, Glaucon and Adeimantus present a challenge to Socrates’ view of justice. Previously, in Book I of the Republic, Socrates presents several counterarguments to Thrasymachus’ belief that it is to your own advantage to practice injustice rather than to follow laws, if you can get away with it (Babcock). Glaucon and Adeimantus sought to present a stronger defense to Thrasymachus’ view. The main viewpoint they try to establish is that it is to our advantage to practiceRead MoreWhat Is Glaucon s Argument On The Republic? Do You Find It Persuasive?1751 Words   |  8 PagesWhat is Glaucon’s argument in the Republic? Do you find it persuasive? Give reasons for your answer. Glaucon’s argument in book II of Republic concerns the issue of justice. From the outset Glaucon explains that justice is a social contract that emerges - between people who are roughly equal in power - for the reason being that the pain of experiencing unjust actions is greater than the benefits accrued from inflicting it. (Plato, 2008) In this essay I will first outline his argument and explainRead More Platos Republic Essay1025 Words   |  5 PagesPlatos Republic In Plato’s Republic, Glaucon is introduced to the reader as a man who loves honor, sex, and luxury. As The Republic progresses through books and Socrates’ arguments of how and why these flaws make the soul unhappy began to piece together, Glaucon relates some of these cases to his own life, and begins to see how Socrates’ line of reasoning makes more sense than his own. Once Glaucon comes to this realization, he embarks on a path of change on his outlook of what happiness isRead MoreSocrates Virtuous Soul Analysis1234 Words   |  5 PagesThis philosophy study will argue against Socrates’ â€Å"virtuous soul† as the motivation for just acts in The Republic. Socrates’ argument for the â€Å"balanced soul† as a motivation for just acts is defined in relation to the contrasting arguments of his contemporaries, such as Thrasymachus, Glaucon, and Adeimantus. This ideological view of the â€Å"virtuous soul† does not provide a pract ical explanation for the motivation of a â€Å"just act† in a hierarchical society. The argument of Thrasymachus defines justiceRead MoreThe Republic Does Justice Pay Essay548 Words   |  3 PagesThe Republic Does Justice Pay In the Introduction of Platos Republic, a very important theme is depicted. It is the argument of whether it is beneficial for a person to lead a good and just existence. The greatly argued position that justice does not pay, is argued by three men Thrasymachus, Glaucon, and Adeimantus. By incorporating all three men into a collective effort I believe I can give a more flattering depiction of injustice. First, we must explore the basis of the moral skepticismRead MoreEssay about Plato1268 Words   |  6 Pagese.).[6] Besides Plato himself, Ariston and Perictione had three other children; these were two sons, Adeimantus and Glaucon, and a daughter Potone, the mother of Speusippus (the nephew and successor of Plato as head of his philosophical Academy).[6] According to the Republic, Adeimantus and Glaucon were older than Plato.[7] Nevertheless, in his Memorabilia, Xenophon presents Glaucon as younger than Plato.[8] According to certain reports of ancient writers, Plato s mother became pregnant throughRead MorePlato - Knowledge vs. True Belief Essay661 Words   |  3 Pagesresult, then true belief is no more useful than knowledge and both beneficial (Meno 97c). This comparison changes in book five of the Republic when Socrates says an ideal state must have a philosopher-king as a ruler (Republic 473d-e). Socrates and Glaucon conclude that knowledge and true belief are different powers so their natures cannot be the same (Republic 477c-478a). Knowledge is the most effective power, while true belief is only what enables you to believe. I think the most importantRead MoreThe Republic By Plato982 Words   |  4 PagesBook II of The Republic by Plato showcases the two very different views of Socrates and Glaucon in regards to the account of nature and origin of justice. Socrates and Glaucon discuss the theory presented by Glaucon that states that injustice is something that is intrinsically desired by all humans. Glaucon presents this argument to Socrates in order to understand and defend justice for its own sake. Glaucon seeks reassurance from Socrates that justice is not just only good for the positive consequencesRead MoreSocrates Plausible Case for Justice862 Words   |  4 Pagesfor justice. Socrates raised two main questions in the first two books of Plato’s Republic, what is justice? And why should we act justly? Thrasymachus and Glaucon both have different and more negative views of justice than Socrates. Throughout books one and two, Socrates, Glaucon and Thrasymachus go back and forth discussing the definition and application of justice in society. He starts his discussions with Glaucon and Thrasymachus by stating simply, â€Å"What is justice?† Thrasymachus states that

Euthanasia and Early 20th Century Free Essays

Life is precious and shouldn’t be taken for granted. A high percentage of people living in America believe that the taking of someone’s life is rather normal in certain ways. Euthanasia is illegal in most of the world, however is permissible in the Netherlands and also in Colombia. We will write a custom essay sample on Euthanasia and Early 20th Century or any similar topic only for you Order Now In the United States of America, euthanasia is legal only in the state of Oregon. Rendering to a May 2004 Gallup Poll, 53% of all Americans think that euthanasia is ethically acceptable, while 41 % believe it is wrong. During the time of the early 20th century, groups formed supporting uthanasia, and mainly were located in England and America. Throughout World War II, the Nazis in Germany had their own program assisting euthanasia. They assisted people with euthanasia who weren’t worthy and who were not in good physical shape enough to live on. They were comprised of primarily children and older people. Euthanasia has its pros and cons, and obviously has its reasons. You’re probably wondering, what is euthanasia? Euthanasia comes from the Greek language and means â€Å"good death†, and is basically a thought of â€Å"mercy killing†. Euthanasia can be divided in to two categories. Two Main Types of Euthanasia There are two types of Euthanasia, active and passive euthanasia. Active euthanasia is an ending of one’s life, mainly done by a physician, usually by lethal drug injections. On the other hand, passive euthanasia is when someone stops a patient from receiving his/her medical treatments which eventually causes that person to die. As we can see, euthanasia is related to death in either case. Euthanasia is mainly used at hospitals, where people are in very bad condition, especially individuals who are in comas. There are even times when Euthanasia is practiced by turning off the ife support machines, or not providing enough food and/or water to the patient. In addition, there are cases where prescribed medications like antibiotic, morphine, etc. , are given to patients which can lead to a patient’s death. Performing the action of euthanasia, passive or active, is a big problem that needs to be addressed by the government. The main problem lies with the decision maker in determining the sick patient’s future. If the decision maker thinks that the patient is suffering exceedingly, he/she will perform the act of euthanasia. However, if the patient is not suffering, the erformer will not proceed to his/her prescribed actions. It’s important to note that today, machines, medicines and other technology have saved millions of lives, therefore, making euthanasia a more and widely discussed and controversial matter throughout the world. Sometimes euthanasia can be beneficial when a person is in critical condition and is too sick to benefit from life. It could also be a way to dismiss extreme pain. However, Euthanasia can have a negative aspect. Euthanasia can debase human life or a monetary reason to save loads of money rather than pending it on life support machines. In conclusion these are the basic pros and cons ot euthanasia. The pros and cons ot the supporting evidence will be discussed in detail below to be understood in its supposed manner. Pros and Reasons Supporting Euthanasia There are many pros for supporting Euthanasia. One would be to help remove extreme suffering from a terminally sick person. Secondly, it another way for ending tremendously high medical bills, knowing that a patient is not going to be cured or knowing that a patient will not live due to the suffering that’s being experienced. Lastly, euthanasia can be beneficial when used on a person who has been in a coma for a while to help family members or close friends overcome any thoughts or feelings that they might have towards the person in the coma. Cons and Reasons Opposing Euthanasia There are also negative aspects for supporting Euthanasia. A person shouldn’t be killed with the use of euthanasia because it is compared to â€Å"murder†. Secondly, Euthanasia is another way to stop the high costs of medical bills. This type of thinking is immoral. Lastly, Euthanasia can be influenced by the sick patient’s wealth and his/her personal belongings, i. . , acquiring wealth, property, inheritance, etc. As we can see from the above pros and cons mentioned above, the action of Euthanasia is rather opinionated. Some people side with euthanasia while others criticize and oppose it. There seems to be no really right or wrong side, but more of a sense of morals involved. Euthanasia is a large topic and can interfere in many people’s lives, and can even interfere in one’s religion, which is a whole separate topic. The following will show the thoughts about Euthanasia in both Christianity and Islam. The Christian religion has several beliefs on Euthanasia. One aspect deals with life which concerns the giving and life and the taking away of life is created by God and God only, and therefore people’s lives should not be determined by human choice. They also believe that no human being should have the right to take the life from another for any reason possible. The Islamic religion is quite similar to the Christian religion on this topic. In the Islamic religion, Allah SWT once said in the Quran, â€Å"Do not take the life, which Allah made sacred, other than in the course of justice. † The Prophet, PBUH, said: â€Å"Amongst the nations before you there was a man ho got a wound, and growing impatient (due to the pain), he took a knife and cut his hand with it and the blood did not stop till he died. Allah said, ‘My slave hurried to bring death upon himself so I have forbidden him (to enter) Paradise. † Sahih Bukhari. Therefore, a person who takes one’s own life away will not enter Paradise. It’s not up to individuals to make the determination on when life should end; it only belongs to Carmelite Spirituality and the e 30 May 2 Practice ot Mental Prayer As we can see in the figure above, a very ill patient, Faye, lying down in bed, with n illness which caused her to be both paralyzed and speechless. Faye cannot move any part of her body and cannot communicate with anyone, as well. Faye and her family collaborated together and have decided to use active euthanasia, by the means of using lethal drug injections. In this situation, Faye has agreed to the injections because she feels that she will not gain anything from life due to her terminal conditions. Euthanasia for Faye was an upright choice because it provided an easy death for her and avoided a lot of pain and suffering that she was experiencing. As for Faye’s family, it saved them a large debt that included life upport, which would have kept her alive throughout her miserable future. How to cite Euthanasia and Early 20th Century, Papers

Hamlet’s Sanity Essay Example For Students

Hamlet’s Sanity Essay Hamlet appears to be insane, after Polonius’s death, in act IV scene II. There are indications, though, that persuade me to think other wise. Certainly, Hamlet has plenty of reasons to be insane at this point. His day has been hectic–he finally determined Claudius had killed his father, the chance to kill Claudius confronted him, he comes very close to convincing Gertrude that Claudius killed his father, he accidentally kills Polonius, and finally the ghost of his father visits him. These situations re enough to bring Hamlet to insanity, but he remains sharp and credible. Hamlet is able to make smart remarks to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, comparing then to sponges, â€Å"When he (Claudius) needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing you and, sponge, you shall be dry again,† (pg 98, 20). This is random and unexpected, as many of his actions, but the comparison makes sense; Rosencrantz and Guildenstern soak up all the kings favors, only to become dry again after they mop up the King’s mess (spying on Hamlet, and getting Polonius’s body). Later, with Claudius, Hamlet tells how lowly a king can be by saying, â€Å"A man (beggar) may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king, and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm,† (pg 99, 29). This also makes sense, and is not quite as random; when Hamlet confronts Claudius, and the king asks where Polonius is, Hamlet immediatly begins the comparison by telling Claudius that Polonuis is at supper (the worms are eating him for supper, and so on). This proves that Hamlet had some kind of planning for this! grading comment, and that his thoughts are not scattered and he is able to stay focused. There is a question of what being insane really is. Since it is agreeable that Ophelia was crazy, it’s possible to use her as a guide to make this argument valid. Hamlet and Ophelia both shared the trait of having calculated thoughts, Ophelia’s singing and Hamlet’s verbal attacks. They also shared calmness before their deaths. But was Hamlet spraying rude remarks to everyone before he died, as Ophelia had sung floating down the river? No, in-fact Hamlet was the opposite of what he was before. If he were crazy, like Ophelia, he would have remained hectic and random up until the time of (and after) the duel. Hamlet, though, was not–he even reasoned what death for him was, finishing his question of whether life was worth living for. Hamlet can truley be seen to be sane, and not. The facts that Hamlet was smart and swift thinking, and in such a reversal of emotions (from after Polonius died) in the end, leads strongly to the opinion that Hamlet was not insane.