Analysis of Plato's Views

At the core of Socrates’ argument is the need to break down the definition of holiness into smaller coherent characteristics. Socrates uses a series of question that are consistent with Euthyphro’s argument to ensure that he [Euthyphro] offers a consistent flow of definitions of the word holy.

Plato is remembered as one of the worlds best known philosophers who along with his writings are widely studied. Plato was a student of the great Greek philosopher Socrates and later went on to be the teacher of Aristotle. Plato’s writings such as “The Republic”, “Apology” and “Symposium” reveal a great amount of insight on what was central to his worldview. He was a true philosopher as he was constantly searching for wisdom and believed questioning every aspect of life would lead him to the knowledge he sought. He was disgusted with the common occurrence of Greeks not thinking for themselves but simply accepting the popular opinion also known as doxa. Plato believed that we ought to search for and meditate on the ideal versions of beauty, justice, wisdom, and other concepts which he referred to as the forms. His hostility towards doxa, theory of the forms, and perspective on reality were the central ideas that shaped Plato’s worldview and led him to be the great philosopher who is still revered today.

Socrates helps Euthyphro to give meaning to the word ‘piety ', and this serves to bring a new meaning to the respect to the divine beings and help in the explanation of the whole context of the divinity in the society. In this manner, there is the need to create a clear definition and help Euthyphro in getting ideas that he can use to teach Socrates to answer the resulting question about the piety. This is to enable Socrates to have a string defense against the charge of impiety and help in tackling the challenges that he faces in the society. The story and the relationship between Socrates and Euthyphro arise when Socrates is called to court to answer to the charges of impiety by Meletus, (Plato et al, 1927). In the courts, Socrates meets Euthyphro, who comes to the courts to prosecute his father who is a murderer.

Socrates accurately contests that this definition does not provide the true nature of piety or why pious acts are in fact considered pious. By challenging Euthyphro’s perception of piety, Socrates attempts to obtain an objectivist definition of what it truly means to be pious. Socrates’ queries provide powerful support for the notion that one’s judgements regarding value is a response to objectively existing values. That is, the pious leads the gods to love it or the morally just leads one to approve it. However, perhaps the reason the dialogue draws to an aporetic conclusion, is the fact that piety may not be defined objectively. Pious acts may be considered immeasurable as they are based upon subjective individual values. Thus, the meaning of piety can differ as a result of one’s individual views and values. As one’s definition of piety may contradict another’s, acts may be regarded as both pious and impious simultaneously. Additionally, one’s own definition of what is considered pious may shift overtime, due to experience or greater understanding of a situation resulting in further discord between piety and impiety. However, whilst this Socratic dialogue does not result in a concise definition of what it means to be pious, it does indirectly enhance one’s understanding of piety by encouraging one to evaluate what the pious is

Socrates and Euthyphro cross paths one day at the courts of Athens. At the time, Euthyphro was there to prosecute his father for murder. Socrates takes the opportunity to ask Euthyphro what the meaning of piety is. In this paper, I exam the issue at hand, how Socrates uses his question to doubt Euthyphro’s thesis, and give an explanation as to what this question means for someone who maintains that God is the origin or foundation of morality.

At first, the irony of Socrates’ question is confusing, and it is never fully answered within the text, but it does force one to think deeper than typically done. That was surely Socrates’ goal in asking the question – to make Euthyphro rethink his ideology before making a life-altering decision. Prior to their conversation, Euthyphro was planning on prosecuting his own father on a questionable charge of tying up a slave and leaving him to die. Socrates initially compliments Euthyphro, stating that most people would not have it in them to be to prosecute their own father, no matter the reason, so Euthyphro’s ability to do so must mean he is much wiser than the average person (4). Euthyphro agrees, which is what leads to Socrates’ question – the Euthyphro Paradox.

Holiness, or piousness, is the center of the conversation between Socrates and Euthyphro. Both of the men met on the porch of the King to deal with a legal matter; Socrates the defendant and Euthyphro the plaintiff. Socrates was being charged with

In the Euthyphro, Plato describes the proceedings of a largely circular argument between Socrates and Euthyphro, a self-declared prophet and pious man, over the nature of piety and even of the gods themselves. The issues raised in this dialogue have been reinterpreted and extended to remain relevant even with a modern theological framework, so much so that the central issue is now known simply as ?the Euthyphro dilemma.? This is based on Socrates? two-way choice which he offers in the dialogue:

In “Euthyphro”, Plato dictates to readers a conversation between Socrates and Euthyphro as Euthyphro is exiting the courthouse in Athens. At this point Socrates has been trialed and charged with the crimes of impiety and corrupting the youth he taught, of which included Plato himself, who recorded all of Socrates’ conversations and later founded one of the first universities of the western world. Socrates challenged many of the ideas of his time and in doing so, gathered together as many experts on as many fields as he could find and asked them each to defend what they knew. What triggered this was the Oracle of Adelphi telling him he is the ‘wisest man’. This made very many people unhappy because he had such a strong influence over the youth he taught and lectured to,

Euthyphro asserts that holy acts can be the persecution of religious offenders, all the while he is standing in front of a man accused by Meletus for acts of impiety. He stated, “I say that piety means prosecuting the wrongdoer who has committed murder or sacrilege” (p.21). However, there are many holy deeds that does not include persecuting offenders. Euthyphro also states, to Socrates’ prodding, that what is pious is what the gods find agreeable- to which Socrates asserts the gods fight amongst themselves constantly. Like most human beings in an ethical dilemma, what some may agree is right or wise could be disagreeable to others. In the end, the dialogue’s functions, to promote questions among the masses, ends with a question; ‘Is piety sacrificing and praying to the gods so that they may trade back acts of kindness in gratitude?’ Socrates points out that a sacrifice to the gods would have to be approved by the gods, which is not a very good definition for holiness. Euthyphro leaves, unfulfilled in his vow to teach Socrates the essence of piety. However, the dialogue’s function has been

Philosophy is a Greek word meaning "love of wisdom." Throughout Plato's Republic, wisdom plays an important role. According to Plato, education is wisdom. In the passage, 518d, Plato discusses the true meaning of education vicariously through Socrates. Some literary mechanisms can be found in the passage and I will show how they fit in the text and how they contribute to the main themes of Plato's Republic.

Socrates continues the conversation with Glaucon and now focuses on the obligation of the guardians and philosophers to serve the people as a result of their education.

Plato was a philosopher and educator in ancient Greece. He was one of the most important thinkers and writers in the history of Western culture. Plato was born in Athens into a family that was one of the oldest and most distinguished in the city. His father Ariston died when Plato was only a child. The name Plato was a nickname meaning broad shoulders. Plato's real name was Aristocles. Plato had aspirations of becoming a politician, however these hopes were destroyed when his friend Socrates was sentenced to death in 299 B.C. Extremely hurt Plato left Athens and traveled for several years. In 387 B.C., Plato returned to Athens and founded a school of philosophy and science that became known as the Academy. Topics such as astronomy,

In order to compare these great philosophers, it is important that we first of all view their history from an individual perspective.

Ethics? Philosophy? What do these two words mean? Living life the right way? Always doing what parents instruct? Some people walk through the motions of life and never fully understand what living is really about—it is more than paying bills, earning an education, and having a family. By definition, philosophy is: “a search for a general understanding of values and reality by chiefly speculative rather than observational means”.1 Humankind has studied philosophy for many years trying to figure out the complex meaning of life, an example being Plato one of the greatest Greek philosophers. Philosophy can be very complicated, but life is a beautiful thing (Thesis statement).