The trail of Gyges. A secular philosophical controversy on the problem of corruption

Giusti M. · Araucaria (2022) · DOI: 10.12795/araucaria.2022.i51.02

Resumen

I use Plato's legendary account of the ring of Gyges from the Republic to make a more far-reaching reflection on the way in which the problem of corrupt human behavior has been conceived in the history of philosophy: its motivations, its assumptions, its consequences, and the ways to combat it. I refer to two great traditions: first, which I call the skeptical and strategic tradition, in general supportive of Glaucon's thesis, and second, the opposite tradition, that defended by Socrates in the dialogue, and that it could be considered, in contrast to the previous one, philanthropic and civic. I conclude with a reflection linked to our time, relying on Richard Rorty's thesis in his last book Achieving our country.

Instituciones: Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú