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Why Be Moral?.

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Presentation on theme: "Why Be Moral?."— Presentation transcript:

1 Why Be Moral?

2 Plato’s Republic Dialogue concerning the nature of justice

3 Plato’s Republic Dialogue concerning the nature of justice
Is it a set of simple rules?

4 Plato’s Republic Dialogue concerning the nature of justice
Is it a set of simple rules? Is it what my parents said?

5 Plato’s Republic Dialogue concerning the nature of justice
Is it a set of simple rules? Is it what my parents said? Is it what our cultural tradition says it is?

6 Plato’s Republic Dialogue concerning the nature of justice
Is it a set of simple rules? Is it what my parents said? Is it what our cultural tradition says it is? Is it what most people would agree it is?

7 Might makes right? The character Thrasymachus not only thinks that what Socrates and Polemarchus have agreed on is silly, he thinks the whole project is silly.

8 Might makes right? The character Thrasymachus not only thinks that what Socrates and Polemarchus have agreed on is silly, he thinks the whole project is silly. Might makes right

9 Might makes right? The character Thrasymachus not only thinks that what Socrates and Polemarchus have agreed on is silly, he thinks the whole project is silly. Might makes right What people call “justice” is just a way to make the strong feel bad about taking advantage of the weak

10 Might makes right? The character Thrasymachus not only thinks that what Socrates and Polemarchus have agreed on is silly, he thinks the whole project is silly. Might makes right What people call “justice” is just a way to make the strong feel bad about taking advantage of the weak Better to seem “just” while actually serving your self-interest

11 Socrates’ argument against might-makes-right
Justice seems more like wisdom than ignorance

12 Socrates’ argument against might-makes-right
Justice seems more like wisdom than ignorance Justice seems more like strength than weakness

13 Socrates’ argument against might-makes-right
Justice seems more like wisdom than ignorance Justice seems more like strength than weakness Most importantly: the just life is the happy life

14 Socrates’ argument against might-makes-right
Justice seems more like wisdom than ignorance Justice seems more like strength than weakness Most importantly: the just life is the happy life The soul has a function, which requires good activity

15 Self-interest revisited
It’s not so much that Thrasymachus is wrong to advocate self-interest but that he doesn’t really understand what “self-interest” is

16 Self-interest revisited
It’s not so much that Thrasymachus is wrong to advocate self-interest but that he doesn’t really understand what “self-interest” is Self-interest ≠ doing what I want

17 Self-interest revisited
It’s not so much that Thrasymachus is wrong to advocate self-interest but that he doesn’t really understand what “self-interest” is Self-interest ≠ doing what I want Plato: being just IS in your self-interest

18 Why be moral, take 2 Is justice valuable for what it gets me, or for its own sake?

19 Why be moral, take 2 Is justice valuable for what it gets me, or for its own sake? Plato: Both

20 Why be moral, take 2 Is justice valuable for what it gets me, or for its own sake? Plato: Both Story: the ring of Gyges

21 Why be moral, take 2 Is justice valuable for what it gets me, or for its own sake? Plato: Both Story: the ring of Gyges Raises issue of “what if I wouldn’t get caught”

22 Why be moral, take 2 Better to be just or merely seem just?

23 Why be moral, take 2 Better to be just or merely seem just?
Plato: being just is developing wisdom, courage, and moderation – this brings internal harmony

24 Why be moral, take 2 Better to be just or merely seem just?
Plato: being just is developing wisdom, courage, and moderation – this brings internal harmony The alternative – cultivate ignorance, cowardice, and have no self- control – doesn’t seem like a recipe for happiness

25 Why be moral, take 2 Better to be just or merely seem just?
Plato: being just is developing wisdom, courage, and moderation – this brings internal harmony The alternative – cultivate ignorance, cowardice, and have no self- control – doesn’t seem like a recipe for happiness It would be pretty miserable to be the most unjust person

26 Why be moral, take 2 Better to be just or merely seem just?
Plato: being just is developing wisdom, courage, and moderation – this brings internal harmony The alternative – cultivate ignorance, cowardice, and have no self- control – doesn’t seem like a recipe for happiness It would be pretty miserable to be the most unjust person So, better to actually be just

27 Why be moral? We do have a self-interest in being good after all
So studying ethics is worthwhile

28 Nietzsche

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