Download Fragility of Goodness

Ethics and Fragility
Luck and Ethics in Greek Thinking
Martha Nussbaum argues that to understand
Platonic ethics, it is important to recognize his
consideration of the relationship between
tuche and techne
Luck and Ethics in Greek Thinking
Tuche (too-kay) means “luck” or “what
happens” beyond our control
Luck and Ethics in Greek Thinking
Tuche (too-kay) means “luck” or “what
happens” beyond our control
Techne (Tek-nay) means “skilled craft that aims
at the good” – it’s related (obviously) to our
word “technology”
Luck and Ethics in Greek Thinking
Tuche (too-kay) means “luck” or “what
happens” beyond our control
Techne (Tek-nay) means “skilled craft that aims
at the good” – it’s related (obviously) to our
word “technology”
Note: in Gorgias, medicine, gymnastics,
legislating, and justice are technai
Luck and Ethics in Greek Thinking
Nussbaum argues that the Greeks were
obsessed with tuche– and the way it can ruin
an otherwise good life.
Luck and Ethics in Greek Thinking
Nussbaum argues that the Greeks were
obsessed with tuche– and the way it can ruin
an otherwise good life.
Take a moment to reflect on an example of how
tuche (luck or what happens) can disrupt life.
Luck and Ethics in Greek Thinking
Nussbaum argues that the Greeks were
obsessed with tuche– and the way it can ruin
an otherwise good life.
She argues that the tragic poets and others were
very aware of what she calls the fragility of
goodness.
Luck and Ethics in Greek Thinking
Nussbaum’s claim is that Plato sought to
invent/discover techne capable of overcoming
tuche– in order to “protect life from luck” and
arrive at “goodness without fragility”
Luck and Ethics in Greek Thinking
Nussbaum’s claim is that Plato sought to
invent/discover techne capable of overcoming
tuche– in order to “protect life from luck” and
arrive at “goodness without fragility”
In her judgment, Platonic ethics ultimately has
to sacrifice too much of what it means to be
human–
Luck and Ethics in Greek Thinking
Let’s give this some thought with the Gorgias
and Crito in mind.
Luck and Ethics in Greek Thinking
What is the proper or best way to address the
fragility of goodness and the intrusion of
tuche (related, in some ways, to what Caputo
calls “the disaster” and “the flesh”)?
Another, different, critique of Plato
Another, different, critique of Plato
Nietzsche (nicknamed Callicles by friends) offers
a sharp critique of the idea of justice as
formulated by Plato/Socrates
Another, different, critique of Plato
In his Genealogy of Morals, he distinguishes
Good vs Bad
And
Good vs. Evil
Another, different, critique of Plato
Good vs. Bad is, he claims, more original.
Aristocratic warriors (like Callicles’ tyrants)
gratified themselves and held that what they
did and loved was good. The “bad” was an
afterthought and referred simply to the low,
ugly, disorganized life of the commoners or
slaves.
Another, different, critique of Plato
Good vs. Evil is, he says, is an invention of the
weak who look upon what the strong do and
rejected it as Evil. Goodness means doing the
opposite of what the strong love– weakness
and docility becomes a virtue.
Another, different, critique of Plato
This is, he says, a form of “slave morality”—
barred from doing anything to change their
situation they simply imagine the strong as
“Evil”—this is their only creative act.
Another, different, critique of Plato
In a final turn, a priestly class convinces them to
turn direct their perception of Evil onto
themselves– you, slave, suffer because you
are evil and must purge yourself of sin to be
free.
Another, different, critique of Plato
So Nietzsche finds great violence to self (and
other) contained in the Socratic judgments
that it is better to suffer than do wrong and
the punishment can heal the soul.