Thrasymachus Vs Plato
Paper #1
What does it mean to be moral? This is the question that Plato has tried to answer in the passages from his famous work the Republic. He has attempted to explain how humans can define and live morally, a task that is truly complicated and uncertain. It is important to identify morality because it plays a crucial role in formulating ethical theories. As Socrates states, "we are discussing no small matter, but how we ought to live."
In his writings he has describes two contrasting views of the important issue that is ultimately asking the question, why be moral? Plato and Thrasymachus represent the different and some-what opposing ideas on this topic of morality and self interest. Thrasymachus believes that the right thing to do is act unjustly or unmorally because one should always proceed to act in one's own self interest. He states, "Why should I be moral when it is not in my interest to be so?" This is called egoism proper. In his mind the perfect life would be to have a great reputation for living in perfect justice while being completely unjust. This would constitute a life of benefits, pleasure and rewards of injustices while still maintaining the reflection of a good …show more content…
I feel that living justly will eventually work out to be in your self-interest because you are being honest and projecting honest from all of your actions, while avoiding consequences. This will lead you to have a just and happy soul. The soul that is divided into three distinctive parts the rational, the spirited and the appetitive. When these three parts work together and fulfill their proper functions, you are acting moral. I feel that you do have control and should be responsible for all of your actions. Only you know what goes on inside yourself and how to create the elements of a harmonious soul. Like Socrates says, "He binds them all together, and himself from a plurality becomes a
What does it mean to be moral? This is the question that Plato has tried to answer in the passages from his famous work the Republic. He has attempted to explain how humans can define and live morally, a task that is truly complicated and uncertain. It is important to identify morality because it plays a crucial role in formulating ethical theories. As Socrates states, "we are discussing no small matter, but how we ought to live."
In his writings he has describes two contrasting views of the important issue that is ultimately asking the question, why be moral? Plato and Thrasymachus represent the different and some-what opposing ideas on this topic of morality and self interest. Thrasymachus believes that the right thing to do is act unjustly or unmorally because one should always proceed to act in one's own self interest. He states, "Why should I be moral when it is not in my interest to be so?" This is called egoism proper. In his mind the perfect life would be to have a great reputation for living in perfect justice while being completely unjust. This would constitute a life of benefits, pleasure and rewards of injustices while still maintaining the reflection of a good …show more content…
I feel that living justly will eventually work out to be in your self-interest because you are being honest and projecting honest from all of your actions, while avoiding consequences. This will lead you to have a just and happy soul. The soul that is divided into three distinctive parts the rational, the spirited and the appetitive. When these three parts work together and fulfill their proper functions, you are acting moral. I feel that you do have control and should be responsible for all of your actions. Only you know what goes on inside yourself and how to create the elements of a harmonious soul. Like Socrates says, "He binds them all together, and himself from a plurality becomes a