What If You Could Get Away With Anything? (Plato + Zelda) – 8-Bit Philosophy

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Episode 14: What If You Could Get Away With Anything?
(Plato & The Ring of Gyges)

Written by: Mia Wood
Created & Directed by: Jared Bauer
Narrator: Nathan Lowe
Animation Producer: MB X. McClain
Original Music & Sound by: David Krystal (http://www.davidkrystalmusic.com)
Visual Consultant: Matt Reichle
Producer & Additional Artwork by: Jacob S. Salamon

© 2014 Wisecrack, Inc.

What if you could do whatever you want...and
get away with it?

Suppose, for example, you could steal from
your best friend…and not only would he never

find out it was you…

He would also think you’re the best friend
ever for letting him cry on your shoulder.

What a sap!

Meanwhile, you’re living it up with what
you stole, and have a devoted tool — er,

friend — to boot!

Believe it or not, Plato talks about you in
Book II of his Republic! Well, he talks about

people like you, if you’re the sort of person
willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead…

especially if you can do it without ever getting
caught.

Plato tells us a story — a myth, really
— of a lowly shepherd who discovers a mysterious

chasm. And inside of it was a magic ring.
When he turned the ring so that the setting

faced his palm, he became invisible.

That night, as he sat with other shepherds
around the fire, he started turning the ring,

and noticed that others, thinking he’d left
his place, started talking about him. In actual

fact, he was invisible.

He wasted no time seducing the queen and,
with her help, murdering the king and seizing

power. Even though he committed a grave injustice,
he certainly benefitted, didn’t he!

Well, according to Plato, no. Despite now
being infinitely richer and more powerful,

Plato thinks the shepherd has NOT benefited
from committing this injustice.

But why? Surely it’s good to gain some material
wealth or social status. Does it really matter

HOW it’s achieved?

But Plato doesn’t think that injustice really
is in one’s best interest. In fact, just

the opposite!

You see, according to Plato, justice is inherently
valuable. The just person will always be infinitely

happier — and thus richer — than the unjust
person.

For Plato does not think that goodness is
derived from material or social gain. Thinking

that it is, is what the shepherd got wrong.

Justice in the individual is the condition
of a harmonious soul governed by reason. You

see, Plato thinks the soul has three parts:
the appetitive part that reflects our urges;

the spirited part that reflects our emotions;
and the rational part that reflects our best

selves.

That’s why the just individual will never
commit injustices, whether s/he can get away

with it or not.

In other words, the just individual knows
that committing unjust acts messes with his

soul, and so also his happiness.

So, dear Viewer, if you found a ring that
could make you invisible, what would you do…?