Through all of our discussions in class, one particular topic has stuck out to me and stuck with me through all my actions during the day. The topic that I can’t seem to shake is the Ring of Gyges. In Plato’s The Republic, the Ring of Gyges plays a large role as a determinant for discovering self-justice and in some cases, self-injustice. With the ring, one can discover a true self. If one uses the ring to commit injustices then they would in turn be an unjust person hiding behind the mask of a just front. However, if one refused to use the ring for injustices then one would be a just being both outside in society and on the inside. I’ve pondered on this ring and have tried to play many scenarios and my conclusion is much like Glaucon’s, people who came into this ring would naturally be tempted to and would act on their desires to be unjust. Although it may seem like I have no faith in society, I struggle with the proposal that if people had the ring they would do nothing but great things with it and just actions.
While I pondered about the Ring of Gyges I couldn’t help but compare this ring to the ring of power in The Lord of Rings. In The Lord of the Rings, Frodo Baggins comes into a ring of power, which coincidently makes the wearer become invisible. Throughout the story there are those who want the ring to commit evil and injustice and there are those who wish to destroy the ring and erase the temptation to be unjust. However, as the story escalates, more and more beings fall to the ring and into its temptation. I relate this to our society, as well. If there was a ring that existed like this in modern times, would more people, especially the just people who would claim to only use the ring for just actions or not use the ring at all, eventually fall to the power and temptation of the ring? The temptation to escape consequences and commit unjust actions seems to entice people beyond the desire to stay just. A lot of people in class admitted that they would fall to the power of the ring and the lure to commit an unjust act without consequences, so I ask all of you, why is this? Why do you think that we are so tempted to commit injustice? Why do we desire to act without consequences? Is there a flaw in our thoughts or do our values not align with our ethical decisions?
Liz,
ReplyDeleteIn a a Utopian society in which everyone was perfect, I believe that those who claim to be just would wear the ring and not commit ills. However, I think that because we are human and it is in human nature to explore and get into trouble, this is not possible. I don't think that it is a question of why are we so tempted to commit injustice, in this case. According to Glaucon, those who commit injustice with the ring on suffer no consequence. Therefore, is it really so bad? This is similar to the moral dilemma in which a mother is ill and there is only one medication that can save her. The family is very poor and can't afford it. Should the daughter steal the medication and allow her mother to live or should she abide by her own and her mother's moral code and let fate take its place? ...I'm sure almost every daughter would steal the medication for their mothers. Does this really make them injust people? Or does it make them resourceful?...Because wouldn't it also be injust of them to let their parents die, knowing that they could have done something to prevent it from happening?
Ivy,
ReplyDeletethe intent of the actions doesn't change the fact that the person committed and unjust act. It's like I was going to say to Liz when she asked "Why do you think that we are so tempted to commit injustice?" Simple. It’s because we are selfish, pleasure seeking, punishment hating beings. Take for example 2 people who fall upon two of those magical rings, the first one is a man who had always wanted to rob a bank, but too afraid to getting caught. Now that he has the ring what do you think he will do? OF COURSE he’ll rob the bank. The second is man working in a non-profit organization that works to fund the building of schools and Haiti. If he were to fall upon such a ring, what do you think he’ll do? Again OF COURSE he’ll use it to get money whatever way he saw possible to fund his initiative.
My point is, it doesn’t matter what the end’s goal is, given the opportunity, to commit and injustice to benefit ourselves, we will do it. But what’s even more important than that, in my opinion, is that we would always find a way to justify it to ourselves as being a necessary act.
I have to agree with Nellie on this one. It really doesn't matter what the end goal is, but the act itself is what matters. Unfortunately, that seems to mean that we as human beings will commit unjust acts. In my opinion, I think that we are tempted to commit the actions that are unjust simply based on the fact that we can escape the consequences, not because we are naturally evil or unjust people, but rather, because we desire to pervade the law. The law has always had a sense of restraint on society. If one can escape the consequences and avoid the law all together then people would take that opportunity, especially if it benefitted each person or a greater good. So perhaps we are just selfish?
ReplyDeleteLiz, You're right! That's exactly what I was trying to say,Nellie and Liz, but I don't think it came across in the right way. If there are no consequences to face, who WOULDN'T take the opportunity??
ReplyDeleteYes, it is because we are selfish.