Reference no: EM134038268

Assignment:

Following is the story of the Ring of Gyges, which, when turned on your finger, makes you invisible. Glaucon makes an argument to Socrates about what would happen if someone had such a ring.

Gyges was a shepherd in the service of the king of Lydia; there was a great storm, and an earthquake made an opening in the earth at the place where Gyges was feeding his flock. Amazed at the sight, Gyges descended into the opening, where, among other marvels, he beheld a hollow brazen horse. The horse had doors that allowed Gyges to stoop and look in where he saw a dead body having nothing on but a gold ring. He took the ring from the finger of the dead and climbed out of the horse. Now the shepherds met together, according to custom, to send their monthly report about the flocks to the king. Into their assembly, Gyges came with the ring on his finger. As he was sitting among them, Gyges fumbled with the ring and turned collet of the ring inside his hand, whereupon instantly he became invisible to the rest of the company and they began to speak of him as if he were no longer present. He was astonished at this, and again touching the ring he turned the collet outward and reappeared; he made several trials of the ring, and always with the same result-when he turned the collet inward, he became invisible; when outward, he reappeared. Whereupon he contrived to be chosen as one of the messengers to be sent to the court. As soon as he arrived, he seduced the queen, and, with her help, conspired against the king, slew him, and took the kingdom.

Imagine having such a ring. The possibilities are endless. You could lead a just life and do good deeds or you could lead a very different life and steal, kill, etc. without the fear of being caught.

Think back over the past few weeks and answer the below questions.

1. What would Aristotle, Kant, and Mill each do if they had such a ring? Be sure to address each one.

2. What would you do with such a ring? (let's be honest here!)