PHILOS 2YY3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Machiavellianism, Ethical Egoism, Thought Experiment
16 May 2018
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PHILOS 2YY3 – Jan 11 2018
What is Right Conduct?
Definition of Justice, Take 1
• Socrates and the gang are discussing the nature of justice
o It is proposed that justie appears to e soethig like truth tellig ad to gie
to eah hat is oed 3
▪ Maybe this is what justice is, given to each person what is owed to them
▪ Flexibility, when trying to define justice
▪ For all possile ases he ere trig to ask hat is the right thig to
do; this is the definition of what it means to act justly
• Socrates asks whether telling the truth and repaying debt are always just
• Examples:
o Case 1: lying about hiding Jews during Nazi occupation (i.e. being unwilling to tell
soeoe i suh a state the hole truth
▪ Counter example: what about this scenario; are you or are you not
harbouring these fugitives
o Case 2: not returning a borrowed weapon to an insane lender (i.e. refusing to
gie hat is oed to soeoe eause of their eig i suh a state
▪ Its not a hard and fast rule because someone could be in a state that
could negate the situation
▪ Not giving the owner their gun cause they may kill the dog (the state they
are in is not good)
• First definition fails
Definition of Justice, Take 2
• But perhaps this definition still has hope, and simply stands in need of refinement
o One owes it to oes friends to do good to them, and not harm … (and) give
what is due to oes eeies (4)
▪ Maybe that will suppress them of these worries – partial relationships
where there is an affection for someone, and want to return in
kindness (reciprocate good action)
• Socrates asks who is the best suited to help a friend or harm an enemy in matters of,
e.g., medicine, food, transportation, etc.? Inevitably it is the physician, the cook, the
sailor, etc.
o “orates point is that the just person is nowhere to be found in every
apparent act of justice … justie is useless in their use, but useful when they
are not in use (5)
▪ Because the activity best suited to give a friend what is owed to them,
is the person who is the best at that thing
▪ If we want to receive good health, we ot go to the just person
whoever that is, we will go to the physician
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