Glaucon suggests that appearing just is equally beneficial as actually being just.
What's the benefit of being just outside reputation?
This is question Glaucon asked Plato. He suggest that men, if they can get away with it, would happily act selfishly if they would have immunity from the consequences of unjust acts, and can remain reputable in society. He uses the Ring of Gyges as an example.
Reputation over safety.
What do I mean by that… I’d like everyone to be just because the result would be a safer society for me and my son. It’s selfish.
Game theory suggests that being just (but not stupid) works best on the long run. It works at its best when played with other just people.
We wouldn’t have empathy if it didn’t give us an advantage. In the same breath, we wouldn’t have people with no empathy (or cold empathy) if it didn’t give them an advantage.
Time will tell. For now, no empathy is winning. Too bad we won’t get to see the outcome. Or maybe, thankfully… fuck knows.
