What if you could do whatever you want... and
get away with it? Suppose, for example, you could steal from
your best friend and not only would he never find out it was you, he would also think you’re the best friend
ever for letting him cry on your shoulder. What a sap! Meanwhile, you’re living it up with what
you stole, and have a devoted tool — er, friend to boot! Believe it or not, Plato talks about you in
Book II of his Republic! Well, he talks about people like you, if you’re the sort of person willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead… especially if you can do it without ever getting caught. Plato tells us a story — a myth, really
— of a lowly shepherd who discovers a mysterious chasm. And inside of it was a magic ring.
When he turned the ring so that the setting faced his palm, he became invisible. That night, as he sat with other shepherds
around the fire, he started turning the ring, and noticed that others, thinking he’d left
his place, started talking about him. In actual fact, he was invisible. He wasted no time seducing the queen and,
with her help, murdering the king and seizing power. Even though he committed a grave injustice,
he certainly benefitted, didn’t he! Well, according to Plato, no. Despite now
being infinitely richer and more powerful, Plato thinks the shepherd has NOT benefited
from committing this injustice. But why? Surely it’s good to gain some material
wealth or social status. Does it really matter how it’s achieved? But Plato doesn’t think that injustice really
is in one’s best interest. In fact, just the opposite! You see, according to Plato, justice is inherently
valuable. The just person will always be infinitely happier — and thus richer — than the unjust person. For Plato doesn't think that goodness is
derived from material or social gain. Thinking that it is, is what the shepherd got wrong. Justice in the individual is the condition
of a harmonious soul governed by reason. You see, Plato thinks the soul has three parts:
the appetitive part that reflects our urges; the spirited part that reflects our emotions;
and the rational part that reflects our best selves. That’s why the just individual will never
commit injustices, whether she or he can get away with it or not. The just individual knows
that committing unjust acts messes with his soul, and so also his happiness. So, dear Viewer, if you found a ring that
could make you invisible, what would you do…?
This video touches on it (and the tri-force visual couldn't be better), but I've always been fond of Plato's tripartite theory of soul. Something about a social order mandated by the inclinations of our "soul" sounds so tight, clean, functional . . . utopian.
As for getting away with anything, Plato's sentiment on justice being inherently valuable is similarly tight, clean, and functional. It's a worthwhile point to make today with those who have unjustly come to power (sociopathic politicians and CEOs) often being (at least depicted as) the most depraved members of society.
Well, it is only failing if you disagree with their values.
I think this is a good example of the fact that when people realize that power in their own life is the power to be happy, then power in a moral sense is the power to make other people happy. Material wealth should only be a goal as a method of maintaining is spreading happiness.
What if he killed the king not just for material gain, but to rule with the peoples values more in mind. Although it might be unwise to think he knew best, his process of deciding how to use the power is interesting.
I feel like I've been in relationships/positions and friendships where I had too much power. I could convince people of anything and there for would be in a loosely similar situation. It becomes hard to ask yourself: What, if anything, is really truly moral or immoral? Well what are my values? Should I foster them over other peoples values? What are other peoples values? Do my values come from societies views? What are my true values, what should their true values be? How should I act when I know I can't be 100% moral all the time?
So eventually if you have power, but truly value morality, then you realize that you should use power to set up a system where you have a position to influence, but power remains with the majority.