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Why should we be just?
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About the lecture
In this module, we examine the fundamental question of Plato's Republic: "Why should we be just?" The module begins with a brief outline of the historical context of the Republic as well as introducing the key interlocutors: Socrates, Glaucon and Adeimantus. We then look at Glaucon's challenge to Socrates; is it better to (actually) be just, or simply to appear to be just (while in fact being unjust)? The challenge is encapsulated in two thought-experiments: the story of Gyges, the man who discovers a ring of invisibility and uses it to get away with murder (literally) and the story of the innocent man who is being punished for a crime he did not commit. The final part of the module considers how Socrates might respond to Glaucon's challenge.
About the lecturer
Nakul is a Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Cambridge. In addition to Plato's Euthyphro and Meno, he also teaches Plato's Republic as well as Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics.
Cite this Lecture
APA style
Krishna, N. (2018, August 15). Plato, Republic - Why should we be just? [Video]. MASSOLIT. https://massolit.io/options/plato-republic?auth=0&lesson=210&option=11830&type=lesson
MLA style
Krishna, N. "Plato, Republic – Why should we be just?." MASSOLIT, uploaded by MASSOLIT, 15 Aug 2018, https://massolit.io/options/plato-republic?auth=0&lesson=210&option=11830&type=lesson