Gyges Moral Issues

1. There are many moral issues we will cover in the eight weeks, but let us start with what you think is a current moral issue in the United States. In this discussion identify it and present your side of the issue. Then let us know whether you think it will still be an issue in 20 years from now and why.

A moral issue that I find very interesting is the take on income inequality and capitalistic societies in general. Many despise the ultra-rich as they deem that their level of wealth is unnecessary and would be better off gifted to others in need or that they must have made those millions by immoral or illegal means. At the same time believing the system is inherently built against them and they could never create wealth for themselves since

The story states that he was an “unscrupulous fellow”, and this character trait is not indicative of everyone. There are many nature and nurture (in regards to psychology) factors that would predispose a person to more likely act in a certain way, but in no way, is every person innately the same as Gyges – even deep down. We see the opposite true all of the time. Someone drops a wallet full of cash, credit cards, and personal information, and even if the person knows they can get away without being caught, some still turn over the wallet to authorities without even a single card dollar missing. Going back to my point on naturistic and nurturistic factors, we can likely predict how certain groups of people will act, but to claim everyone will act in the same manner as Gyges is far from the truth.

3. In the Video of Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, there is Plato's story of the cave: “It is the task of the enlightened, not only to ascend to learning and to see the good, but to be willing to descend again to those prisoners and to share their troubles and their honors, withier they are worth having or not. And this they must do even with the prospect of death.” (Plato) Please comment on this video and this

You see this behavior between political parties, social classes, and even within your own internal reasoning. People find solace in conforming the norms of their immediate environment or cultures simply because “if everyone believes “A” then “A” must be correct. Why else would everyone believe it?” This type of thinking likely stems from humans being social creatures so it is reasonable why it is so common, but staying trapped in this “bubble” is detrimental to growth. You would find it much more gratifying to speak to those who have differing viewpoints than you rather than speaking to those who you agree with. For instance, if you believe eating meat is good for you, talking to someone else who also agrees that eating meat is good for you does nothing to enhance your knowledge of the subject. Instead, talk to a vegan and – without bias – listen to what they have to say. Don’t be like the guys in the cave and ostracize the person who is merely trying to