Our decisions about how to act are almost never simple. Should we strive to obey our country's laws, or should we follow a personal set of guiding principles? Should we direct our lives toward a common social or political goal, or should we seek out a pleasant existence as individuals? Should we expect others to follow the ethical rules we set up for ourselves, or should we expect others to determine their own rules, even if they radically differ from our own? These questions have vexed philosophical thinkers for millennia, and there are no simple answers. Through a selection of ancient Greek and Roman writers, we'll unpack their compelling and competing views about what we must do to be good humans and good citizens.
Gopher Grades is maintained by Social Coding with data from Summer 2017 to Summer 2025 provided by the University in response to a public records request