"The Ring of Gyges"- Plato

Explain one point Glaucon is making about human nature and why we act justly with the Shepard and ring story. Glaucon argues that all persons are egoistic and selfish. He states that the only reason people do not always do the unjust thing is because of the fear of being caught and harmed. If we look at what people really are, then we will see that they believe to do wrong is desirable and to suffer wrong is undesirable. Since we do not want to suffer wrong, we compromise with others and form a compact kind of like a social contract not to harm each other.

These agreements are the origination of justice in society. So like in the story, if we possessed a magical ring that makes us invisible when we put it on, would it be foolish to keep abiding by the law? Glaucon suggests that we shall be able to make a correct judgment about it only if we consider the most just man, and the most unjust man.

” By comparing them I think there is no reason why the laws should be obeyed for their own sake. However, it makes sense for the owner of the ring to keep obeying the laws if doing wrong would leave them with unwanted feelings such as guilt.