26:34 PHILOSOPHY AND THE JUST SOCIETY

Mid-Term Study Questions

1. What is the distinction between metaethical questions and normative questions in ethics? Clearly state the cognitivism/noncognitivism controversy and the view that we called self-referential subjective descriptions that we defined in class. Does the fact that there seems to be substantial ethical disagreement across different cultures cast doubt on ethical cognitivism? Justify your answer.

2. Define an egoistic action. Given this definition must every action which benefits the actor be egoistic? Explain. Explain the different theses associated with egoism that we discussed in lecture?

3. Present Polemarchus's restatement (beginning around 332) of his father's (Cephalus's) definition of justice. Present and evaluate Socrates's objection to the view.

4. Thrasymachus advances the thesis that justice or right conduct is what is in the interests of the stronger party (or at least is what the stronger party perceives to be in his or her interest). Explain Thrasymachus ' view. Socrates argues against it by relying on analogies which focus on other occupations. Present and evaluate Socrates' argument.

5. In Books I and II of The Republic Thrasymachus and then Glaucon and Adeimantus (playing devil's advocates) argue for the view that acting rationally may well involve, in certain circumstances, acting unjustly. Present the arguments of each.. Do you agree with their conclusion? If so, why? If not, why not?

6. Present and evaluate the competition argument Socrates gives in The Republic (348c-350d). To what claim made by Thrasymachus is it a reply?

7. Present and evaluate the arguments Socrates gives (436-41) for his view that the self or mind of an individual is composed of three distinct elements.

8. In Book IV of The Republic Plato finally offers a formal definition of both the just society and the just individual. What are these definitions? Plato appears to assume that the person who is just in the sense he has defined will usually act in accordance with conventional morality, i.e. will not steal, cheat, lie, commit adultery. Do you agree? If so why? If not, why not?

9. Glaucon distinguishes three ways in which something can be good and gives examples to illustrate each. What were the three ways and what were Glaucon's examples? Why did Glaucon discuss the ring of Gyges "thought experiment" in connection with this distinction?

10. Why did Socrates think that democracy was the second worst form of goverment? In particular, what views did Socrates appeal to when constructing the ideal state that would also lead him to reject the wisdom of establishing a democratic state?

11. In Book IX, beginning at 578e and continuing through 587 Plato presents three arguments for the view that it is irrational to pursue the so-called physical pleasures and that the just person as he understands him/her is actually happier than the unjust person as personified by, for example, the tyrant ruler. Present and evaluate those arguments.

We may take parts of these study questions to ask shorter-answer questions. Also, be sure to review the material we presented in class on deductive and non-deductive standards for evaluating arguments, and the ways in which one might criticize arguments. We will probably ask you some short-answer questions on this material.