The 3 Classes Of Good

Glaucon tells this story to illustrate how people can apparently benefit by acting unjustly. After all, wouldn’t any rational person act like Gyges if presented the opportunity to get what they desired without consequence?

Exploring this argument, Glaucon breaks all good things into 3 classes. The first, we desire for their own sake, like the experience of harmless pleasure. The second, we want only for the value they bring, though they may be onerous, like exercise or medicine. The third class we desire both for their own sake and the value they offer, like knowledge and health.