GLAUCON'S ADAPTATION OF THE STORY OF GYGES & ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR PLATO'S POLITICAL TEACHING

In: Polity: the journal of the Northeastern Political Science Association, Band 17, Heft 1, S. 30-39

Abstract

GLAUCON'S ADAPTATION OF HERODOTUS' ACCOUNT OF GYGES, IN THE COURSE OF HIS EXTENDED PRAISE OF INJUSTICE IN BOOK II OF THE REPUBLIC, MAY BE READ TO IMPLY A DESIRE FOR A SIMPLE AND PERFECT WORLD. PROFESSOR NICHOLS ARGUES IN THIS ARTICLE THAT THIS DESIRE UNDERLIES THE FOUNDING OF THE CITY IN SPEECH PRESUPPOSING THE POSSIBILITY OF COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE AND CONTROL. IT IS A TRAGIC UNDERTAKING IN THAT IT IGNORES THE LIMITS TO WHICH HERODOTUS CALLS ATTENTION.