Does Plato's “Ring of Gyges” have a corrupting influence on its wearer?
In Plato's Republic, a simple shepherd finds a magical ring, places it on his finger, turns invisible and then immediately sets about a campaign of murder, rape and treason. This seems like behaviour that would be out of character for anyone who isn't a Lannister.
Does the Ring have a specific corrupting influence (like Tolkien's 'One Ring' corrupts those who wear it) or is it simply Plato's opinion that anyone who can become invisible is basically mere hours away from being a murderous rapist?
the-republic
asked 5 hours ago
ValorumValorum
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add a comment |
In Plato's Republic, a simple shepherd finds a magical ring, places it on his finger, turns invisible and then immediately sets about a campaign of murder, rape and treason. This seems like behaviour that would be out of character for anyone who isn't a Lannister.
Does the Ring have a specific corrupting influence (like Tolkien's 'One Ring' corrupts those who wear it) or is it simply Plato's opinion that anyone who can become invisible is basically mere hours away from being a murderous rapist?
the-republic
asked 5 hours ago
ValorumValorum
405k10829463171
How quaint simple invisibility seems now! These days you'd need to hide your thermal signature (not just emissive, but transferred/conducted), sound, incidental contacts, respiration traces, not to mention any of the ways to accidentally shed DNA...
– DavidW
4 hours ago
add a comment |
In Plato's Republic, a simple shepherd finds a magical ring, places it on his finger, turns invisible and then immediately sets about a campaign of murder, rape and treason. This seems like behaviour that would be out of character for anyone who isn't a Lannister.
Does the Ring have a specific corrupting influence (like Tolkien's 'One Ring' corrupts those who wear it) or is it simply Plato's opinion that anyone who can become invisible is basically mere hours away from being a murderous rapist?
the-republic
asked 5 hours ago
ValorumValorum
405k10829463171
In Plato's Republic, a simple shepherd finds a magical ring, places it on his finger, turns invisible and then immediately sets about a campaign of murder, rape and treason. This seems like behaviour that would be out of character for anyone who isn't a Lannister.
Does the Ring have a specific corrupting influence (like Tolkien's 'One Ring' corrupts those who wear it) or is it simply Plato's opinion that anyone who can become invisible is basically mere hours away from being a murderous rapist?
the-republic
the-republic
asked 5 hours ago
ValorumValorum
405k10829463171
asked 5 hours ago
ValorumValorum
405k10829463171
asked 5 hours ago
ValorumValorum
405k10829463171
asked 5 hours ago
ValorumValorum
405k10829463171
asked 5 hours ago
ValorumValorum
405k10829463171
405k10829463171
How quaint simple invisibility seems now! These days you'd need to hide your thermal signature (not just emissive, but transferred/conducted), sound, incidental contacts, respiration traces, not to mention any of the ways to accidentally shed DNA...
– DavidW
4 hours ago
add a comment |
How quaint simple invisibility seems now! These days you'd need to hide your thermal signature (not just emissive, but transferred/conducted), sound, incidental contacts, respiration traces, not to mention any of the ways to accidentally shed DNA...
– DavidW
4 hours ago
How quaint simple invisibility seems now! These days you'd need to hide your thermal signature (not just emissive, but transferred/conducted), sound, incidental contacts, respiration traces, not to mention any of the ways to accidentally shed DNA...
– DavidW
4 hours ago
How quaint simple invisibility seems now! These days you'd need to hide your thermal signature (not just emissive, but transferred/conducted), sound, incidental contacts, respiration traces, not to mention any of the ways to accidentally shed DNA...
– DavidW
4 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
It does not. And Plato doesn't actually commit himself to a position on the subject. Instead he puts the story of the ring of Gyges into the mouth of his brother Glaucon who argues that being placed in a position where one is no longer answerable for ones deeds, very few if any people would refrain from abusing such a position of immunity. They might not murder, but would they steal or spy? Would they behave in every way the same as they would if they were still to some degree answerable for their actions? Glaucon doubts it. But Plato also has Socrates say that the man who refused to use such power would be a happier and freer man while the man who used it would a slave to his appetites.
But the philosophical issue being discussed is invalidated if the ring also has some kind of mind control power. The only corrupting power of the Ring of Gyges is the power it gives the user. I might add that it's probably a metaphor being some kind of absolute monarch.
answered 4 hours ago
David JohnstonDavid Johnston
1,517512
add a comment |
It seems it's as simple as Plato believing that nobody who has power can avoid being corrupted if nobody is able to see them abusing it. So the ring would be as much a force for corruption as any other means of gaining power without any oversight.
For example: "If Plato's allegory of the ring is right, then we had better watch out. Anyone who gains power without accountability is liable to use it unjustly."
reference This is typical of the usual analysis of this allegory.
answered 4 hours ago
DavidWDavidW
2,1031533
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
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It does not. And Plato doesn't actually commit himself to a position on the subject. Instead he puts the story of the ring of Gyges into the mouth of his brother Glaucon who argues that being placed in a position where one is no longer answerable for ones deeds, very few if any people would refrain from abusing such a position of immunity. They might not murder, but would they steal or spy? Would they behave in every way the same as they would if they were still to some degree answerable for their actions? Glaucon doubts it. But Plato also has Socrates say that the man who refused to use such power would be a happier and freer man while the man who used it would a slave to his appetites.
But the philosophical issue being discussed is invalidated if the ring also has some kind of mind control power. The only corrupting power of the Ring of Gyges is the power it gives the user. I might add that it's probably a metaphor being some kind of absolute monarch.
answered 4 hours ago
David JohnstonDavid Johnston
1,517512
add a comment |
It does not. And Plato doesn't actually commit himself to a position on the subject. Instead he puts the story of the ring of Gyges into the mouth of his brother Glaucon who argues that being placed in a position where one is no longer answerable for ones deeds, very few if any people would refrain from abusing such a position of immunity. They might not murder, but would they steal or spy? Would they behave in every way the same as they would if they were still to some degree answerable for their actions? Glaucon doubts it. But Plato also has Socrates say that the man who refused to use such power would be a happier and freer man while the man who used it would a slave to his appetites.
But the philosophical issue being discussed is invalidated if the ring also has some kind of mind control power. The only corrupting power of the Ring of Gyges is the power it gives the user. I might add that it's probably a metaphor being some kind of absolute monarch.
answered 4 hours ago
David JohnstonDavid Johnston
1,517512
add a comment |
It does not. And Plato doesn't actually commit himself to a position on the subject. Instead he puts the story of the ring of Gyges into the mouth of his brother Glaucon who argues that being placed in a position where one is no longer answerable for ones deeds, very few if any people would refrain from abusing such a position of immunity. They might not murder, but would they steal or spy? Would they behave in every way the same as they would if they were still to some degree answerable for their actions? Glaucon doubts it. But Plato also has Socrates say that the man who refused to use such power would be a happier and freer man while the man who used it would a slave to his appetites.
But the philosophical issue being discussed is invalidated if the ring also has some kind of mind control power. The only corrupting power of the Ring of Gyges is the power it gives the user. I might add that it's probably a metaphor being some kind of absolute monarch.
answered 4 hours ago
David JohnstonDavid Johnston
1,517512
It does not. And Plato doesn't actually commit himself to a position on the subject. Instead he puts the story of the ring of Gyges into the mouth of his brother Glaucon who argues that being placed in a position where one is no longer answerable for ones deeds, very few if any people would refrain from abusing such a position of immunity. They might not murder, but would they steal or spy? Would they behave in every way the same as they would if they were still to some degree answerable for their actions? Glaucon doubts it. But Plato also has Socrates say that the man who refused to use such power would be a happier and freer man while the man who used it would a slave to his appetites.
But the philosophical issue being discussed is invalidated if the ring also has some kind of mind control power. The only corrupting power of the Ring of Gyges is the power it gives the user. I might add that it's probably a metaphor being some kind of absolute monarch.
answered 4 hours ago
David JohnstonDavid Johnston
1,517512
edited 57 mins ago
answered 4 hours ago
David JohnstonDavid Johnston
1,517512
answered 4 hours ago
David JohnstonDavid Johnston
1,517512
answered 4 hours ago
David JohnstonDavid Johnston
1,517512
1,517512
add a comment |
add a comment |
It seems it's as simple as Plato believing that nobody who has power can avoid being corrupted if nobody is able to see them abusing it. So the ring would be as much a force for corruption as any other means of gaining power without any oversight.
For example: "If Plato's allegory of the ring is right, then we had better watch out. Anyone who gains power without accountability is liable to use it unjustly."
reference This is typical of the usual analysis of this allegory.
answered 4 hours ago
DavidWDavidW
2,1031533
add a comment |
It seems it's as simple as Plato believing that nobody who has power can avoid being corrupted if nobody is able to see them abusing it. So the ring would be as much a force for corruption as any other means of gaining power without any oversight.
For example: "If Plato's allegory of the ring is right, then we had better watch out. Anyone who gains power without accountability is liable to use it unjustly."
reference This is typical of the usual analysis of this allegory.
answered 4 hours ago
DavidWDavidW
2,1031533
add a comment |
It seems it's as simple as Plato believing that nobody who has power can avoid being corrupted if nobody is able to see them abusing it. So the ring would be as much a force for corruption as any other means of gaining power without any oversight.
For example: "If Plato's allegory of the ring is right, then we had better watch out. Anyone who gains power without accountability is liable to use it unjustly."
reference This is typical of the usual analysis of this allegory.
answered 4 hours ago
DavidWDavidW
2,1031533
It seems it's as simple as Plato believing that nobody who has power can avoid being corrupted if nobody is able to see them abusing it. So the ring would be as much a force for corruption as any other means of gaining power without any oversight.
For example: "If Plato's allegory of the ring is right, then we had better watch out. Anyone who gains power without accountability is liable to use it unjustly."
reference This is typical of the usual analysis of this allegory.
answered 4 hours ago
DavidWDavidW
2,1031533
edited 4 hours ago
answered 4 hours ago
DavidWDavidW
2,1031533
answered 4 hours ago
DavidWDavidW
2,1031533
answered 4 hours ago
DavidWDavidW
2,1031533
2,1031533
add a comment |
add a comment |
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How quaint simple invisibility seems now! These days you'd need to hide your thermal signature (not just emissive, but transferred/conducted), sound, incidental contacts, respiration traces, not to mention any of the ways to accidentally shed DNA...
– DavidW
4 hours ago