Reference no: EM133426498

Glaucon said that everyone does the right thing out of motives that have nothing to do with reason or innate goodness. What is the satisfaction of doing the right thing if nobody knows it? We do the right thing because it makes us feel good or because others will be impressed by our goodness.

Socrates counters that the virtuous act is done for its own sake - whether or not they profit from it. Rational citizens create laws that are fair, just and good. People do good because people are good.

Altruism is the idea that we do good even if it is against our own self-interest. A human occasionally does good things knowing that the result will be their own pain.

Kant believed that the sense of right and wrong was inborn. That only self-interest could suppress our natural morality. He said that the chief moral question to ask ourselves is "Would it be alright if everyone did this?"

1. Are people inherently good? Or do we only do good things for ourselves or for reward?

2. The Moral Philosophers discussed above and in the chapter - Which do you agree with? Why? Provide an example to support your reasoning.