Ring of Gyges Was Famous

RING of GYGES was famous for the power of invisibility that it could grant its wearer. However there is a philosophical twist to the story. According to Glaucon, the wearer would become a god like figure among men if he wore the ring. He further added that if this ring was given to someone but he refused to wear it then become would think he is a wretched idiot.

Socrates did not agree with this viewpoint. He agreed that wearer would become unjust even if he was a just person otherwise but if someone refused to wear it, Socrates believed he would at least be at peace with himself. This is an interesting argument and I imagined what I would do if I had the ring.

A cannot say that I would refuse to wear it. I will most certainly take the opportunity to wear it and will then use it for various purposes. I will of course promise myself that I won't hurt anyone but will I be always just? I don't really think so. I know the one thing I would most surely is snoop around the school. I will try not to hurt anyone but I will enter the restricted area to see what is coming in exams and if exam papers have already been prepared by teachers.

Once I know that, I will have the power and this power will help be improve my grades. I cannot promise that I will not reveal this information to anyone. I might share it with my best friends.

That is one thing I know I would do if I could become invisible. I don't think I would go out in streets and try to be the savior of the world. But I know that if I come across a situation where I can save someone or protect something which is under danger then I will do it by all means. Especially I would love to protect children from accidents, pedophiles and bullies.

Socrates would tell me that by wearing the ring, I am not at peace with myself because only the one who refused to wear it was morally sound. I will disagree with him and tell him that while it is true that a person with the ring is very powerful and can thus get corrupted but there are some good purposes for which it could be used too.

For example, would it be wrong to say that most of us cannot do positive things like saving another human being from gang attack because we are too weak and powerless. I think it is absolutely true that if we had power, we would like to perform some great acts of generosity and bravery. The ring could give us that power.

The power to become invisible is a great treasure and no one in his right mind would let that power go. It is because we are visible and vulnerable to getting hurt that we often stop ourselves from doing things we would otherwise want to do.