September 23
Wednesday, September 23, 2026Breakout
Doing What You Want
Goals
Goals
Socrates presents a moral psychology which posits that
1) We all want “the good” — that everything we do aims at true benefit, even if only to oneself
2) We always do whatever we think is best — i.e., what we calculate is most likely to bring about that good.
- If it is correct, what do we need in order to have the best chance of reaching our real goal of “the good”?
- Is it true that we always aim at/will/want some real benefit? Is it only for ourselves?
- Is it true that we always do what we think is best? Might we sometimes think something best but not do it? Do something we think will not bring about good but harm?
- Socrates seems to equate desires with beliefs about what is good. Does this seem correct? Or are desires a different kind of psychological state entirely?
Before Class
- No new reading
Reflect on, and prepare to discuss, the following questions:
- If the psychology presented in the Gorgias is correct, what do we need in order to have the best chance of reaching our real goal of “the good”?
- Is it true that we always aim at/will/want some real benefit? Is it only for ourselves?
- Is it true that we always do what we think is best? Might we sometimes think something best but not do it? Do something we think will not bring about good but harm?
- Socrates seems to equate desires with beliefs about what is good. Does this seem correct? Or are desires a different kind of psychological state entirely?
- N/A
After Class
Further Resources
Further Resources
- TBD