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Ethics and Values / Unit 6   Ethics 260 short lesson, about 20 seconds

The Ring of Gyges

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The idea

The Ring of Gyges asks: if a ring of invisibility removed all witnesses and consequences, would anyone stay just — and if so, why?

In practice

Glaucon bets no one stays just; the Republic's answer is character — justice pays inwardly, in the state of the soul, watchers or none.

Your place on the trail

Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.

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