PHI 1101 Chapter 1: Republic

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Philosophy
• Course: PHI 1101
• Professor: Laura Byrne

Document Summary

Thrasymachus is a psychological and ethical egoist. Psychological egoist: people, as a matter of fact, so what is in their self interest (sel sh) Ethical egoist: all people should always do what is in their self interest: this is the rational way to live (happiest and best if sel sh) People always do what is in their own self interest and this is the rational way to live. Law and conventional morality are merely expressions of the interest of the powerful in society who get to make laws and customs (made up) They make these laws, and they make them in their own self interest. Therefore, unless you are making the laws, morality or justice is not good for you. Coming from a noble family, it certainly was to be expected that plato would play a prominent part in the political life of athens but he did not and he pursued philosophy instead.