'The Lord of the Rings and Philosophy'

[Mister Underhill]

Others have challenged this point, but it caught my notice too, so I’ll add a few remarks.

There are many examples of people who have acted immoraly (judged by reference to standard norms) and yet who reap the rewards of their immorality and suffer no (earthly) punishment. So, this proposition cannot form the basis of a sound philosophy.

I’m not sure I follow your logic here, Sauce. The quote you reference does not refer to “punishment” per se – unless the punishment is a miserable internal life. Certainly there are numerous examples of people who have reaped all the material, outward “rewards” of their immorality, but do they have fulfilling relationships, clear consciences, peace of mind?

Plato’s assertion is, I would argue, one of the few bedrock principles that most systems of traditional wisdom, secular and non-secular, can agree on: you can’t put a price tag on the value of a life of integrity and virtue; virtue is its own reward; immorality leads only to unhappiness, no matter how much riches or fame may be obtained thereby.