Plato and Hobbes

Plato And Hobbes

Goal of the Paper:

Determining the nature of justice. Why we should be Moral? Is justice good for its consequences or for its own sake.

Plato: establish a state where the most wise govern everyone as they are the only ones intelligent enough to make decisions regarding other ( not in their own interest). A governance through guiding.

Hobbes: establish a government to punish people that did harm to other (were unjust) a governance of society through punishment. Justify the need of state authority.

Main Thesis:

Platos: humans are initially just, being just will give you more reward

Hobbes: pessimistic humans will do everything for their own good, being unjust will get you more

Conclusions of the Author:

Plato: We must take the most just to guide everyone

Hobbes: In order to keep people from being unjust we must establish a government that punishes the unjust

Critical Considerations:

Does the Conclusion follow the premises, are the arguments consistent?

They are not always consistent especially in Platos arguments about people actually being just. ( Unjust people gain advantages too)

Similarities with the Virtual Simulation:

We experienced most people thinking about themselves rather then the common good. Therefore we should agree with Hobbes

Class Notes:

Morality is an Agreement

- it is conventional