The Euthyphro by Plato Euthyphro, one of the many dialogues written by the Greek philosopher Plato documenting the quest for wisdom by his mentor, Socrates. The time that The Euthyphro takes place is preceding a trial that Socrates is in concerning some allegations that he was corrupting the youth of Athens, and ultimately leads to his demise. But it is a very important dialogue due to how it shows the methods Socrates used to try to gain wisdom, and gives some insight on his and or Plato's view on holiness altogether. In all, the Euthyphro is a display of how the Socratic method of obtaining wisdom works and it enters into what Socrates and Plato define holiness as. The dialogue begins with Socrates and Euthyphro coming across one …show more content…
Euthyphro replies by saying that surely the gods agree that the unjust killing of a man is unholy and should be punished. Socrates refutes by saying that that is not what is in question and that yes they do agree on factual things. He says that the question is that they do not always agree with what is just and what is unjust, each has their own opinion, and if this is true that they must not agree. Socrates uses his method to get Euthyphro to question his decision on prosecuting his father. This leads Euthyphro to change his definition up yet again. The third definition of holiness Euthyphro gives Socrates is that it is what is approved of by the gods, slightly differentiating from the last one. Socrates pounces on this as well. His argument against this one is a little more complicated and I am not sure I have it right. I believe Socrates is saying that how does one know if something is holy just because it was approved of by the gods. Did the gods approve of it because it was holy or is them approving it what makes it holy? This question perplexes Euthyphro and in desperation he just says that Socrates is manipulating his arguments and making them not get anywhere. Socrates replies to this by saying that he is just asking questions and it is Euthyphro's answers that aren't getting anywhere. He then tries to help Euthyphro by asking him if what is holy is always just and if whatever is just is holy. While Euthyphro
Throughout the dialogue between Euthyphro and Socrates, they both try to come up with an understanding of the relationship between piety and justice. Within the discussion, Socrates questions Euthyphro to see if he can define the difference and similarities between justice and piety, and if they interact with each other. Eventually, Euthyphro and Socrates came up with the conclusion that justice is a part of piety. This is the relationship that I agree most with because in my own opinion, I believe that all of the gods and people agree that human beings who commit unjust actions need to be punished for their actions.
The main question of this dialogue is the definition of the word holy or piety. Euthyphro brags that he is more knowledgeable than his father on matters relating to religion. In this case, Socrates suggests to Euthyphro to define that term. The first definition fails to satisfy Socrates because of its limitation in application. Apparently, Socrates perceives this definition as an example rather than a definition. Subsequent arguments and line of questioning lead to five sets of definitions that are refined to find the general definition. Socrates expects that the acceptable general definition of the question will act as a reference point in his defense.
If it were the exact definition, only Euthyphro would be pious. He said that Euthyphro did not understand the difference between a definition and an example. Next, Euthyphro says that piety is found in things that are dear to the gods (7a). Socrates again rejected Euthyphro’s definition of piety. The Greek gods were anthropomorphic; therefore, another may despise what would be dear to one god. This definition offered was not distinct. Finally, Euthyphro said that what is pious is what loved by the gods (9e). However, Euthyphro can’t answer whether something is pious because it is loved or it is loved because it is pious. He can’t conceive the difference between cause and effect. It is in the Euthyphro that Socrates begins his defense of his actions and principles to the reader. A priest can’t give him a concise answer as to what is religious; therefore, how can anyone else, especially one less religiously guided than a priest, accuse him of blasphemous actions?
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.
However in Plato’s Euthyphro, it can be argued that Socrates plays a similar role. In the Euthyphro, Socrates discusses piety in general and what makes things and people pious. Socrates claims he wants to learn more on the subject so that he may better defend himself against the treasonous charges against him. In a way, Euthyphro represents the traditional Athenian way of thinking. He believes in and supports all of the gods and does not submit to Socrates’ prodding of the subject, although he does walk away from him in frustration at the end of the dialogue. However it can safely be said that most Athenians would agree with Euthyphro’s opinion of the gods and to disagree could most certainly be punishable by law, as Socrates was. Socrates’ search for the definition of piety is a difficult one that tests Euthyphro’s patience and ultimately leaves the characters and the reader without an answer. Every time Euthyphro proposes an answer, Socrates is quick to counter it with some thought. Interpreting Socrates’ tone and meaning here is important. Some may see Socrates to be quite demeaning in these instances, almost teasing Euthyphro because he claims to be so pious yet he cannot even define the word. In this way, similar to Aristophanes’ Clouds, Socrates plays a subversive role in the Euthyphro.
In Plato's dialogue, 'Euthyphro', Socrates presents Euthyphro with a choice: `Is what is pious loved by the gods because it is pious, or is it pious because it is loved [by the gods]?'
In Aristocles (plato)“Euthyphro”, we are challenged with understanding the reasoning and moral issues behind why Euthyphro think it was right or holy for him to prosecute his father. Euthyphro has arrive at the court in Athens to prosecute his father for neglectfully killing a servant, a servant who previously killed someone. Euthyphro however thinks that is holy for him to prosecute his father, which Socrates later questions what is Piety, Making Euthyphro give valid reasons why it is holy to prosecute is father. Euthyphro however took upon the challenge of Socrates and gave points why his actions are justified for it is holy for him to do such thing.
Socrates’s image in the two works differ firstly in his attitude towards knowledge and towards himself. A typical statement of Socrates, both in the Euthyphro and in other Plato’s works, is that he has no clear knowledge. He is different from the public because he knows that he does not know. Neither does he claim to teach or corrupt the young (Euthyphro, p.2
Euthyphro was a theologian that was acquainted with Socrates through means unknown. Although he was familiar with Socrates’s method of communicating with others, Euthyphro did not seem to mind Socrates’s questioning until he, himself, was questioned. The two meet at the courthouse, awaiting separate trials. Euthyphro was prosecuting his father for murder, and Socrates
Socrates was a moral philosopher who was accused of impiety and was about to be tried for a crime, the nature of which no one seemed to understand. The trial and death of Socrates has four dialogs known as the Euthyphro, the Apology, the Crito, and the Phaedo which describes the process of Socrates’ controversial and insightful trial that raises the questions about human morality. Within the story we learned that the relationship between morality and religion might not be as clear-cut as some might think, Socrates forces the witnesses of his trial as well as ourselves to come to conclusions which result in a paradox that conflicts with the individual beliefs of his audience. In the event in which, Socrates poses a question to himself and Euthyphro, an attempt to answer the question "What is piety?" It has a specific tie to the events in “The Trial and Death of Socrates”, for Socrates had been accused of impiety and was about to be tried for the crime of heresy. The Euthyphro dialogue was written twenty-four centuries ago, and its conclusion is devastating for the whole idea that holiness and morality are very well connected. The idea that, “if God does not make something good by commanding it, but rather instead identifies that which is good, what measurement of morality does he use to make this judgment?” If something is right because god commands it, then it follows that something would be just as right if God instructed differently. If god declares that it is right to
pious, but every answer he offers is subjected to the full force of Socrates' critical thinking. Socrates systematically refutes Euthyphro's
In Euthyphro, Socrates is on his way to his trial for impiety when he runs into Euthyphro. Euthyphro is on his way to trial as well, but he is the prosecutor in his trial. He is trying his own father for the murder of a servant. Socrates asks him to teach him about what is holy so that he might be able to defend himself better. Socrates asks Euthyphro to teach him, but as you read you
Socrates expresses in Euthyphro that accusations of him making up gods and destroying gods is a serious charge and this charge is bringing brought to the court. To me this brings up some more questioning because being pious is doing right by the God, being impious is doing wrong by the gods, but if he is accused of making up and destroying the gods, then the gods were to his pious and impious standards? This being said this shows the seriousness of this charge.
He is old and come just to answer the indictment for impiety. On the other hand Euthyphro come to file the case agent his father murder. Euthyphro is young and priest, he thinks he has knowledge of divine things. When Socrates asked question about pious he just ends saying that any action that everything god love is same as pious. While Socrates asked definition of pious Euthyphro denied answering his question. This shows that Socrates has lots of question and answer and he is cleaver
When Socrates asks, "Is the holy approved by the gods because it's holy, or is it holy because it's approved? " his main goal in this dialogue is showing that there is no definite, definition of what holiness is because people define it differently based on their individual beliefs on what it is, and doubtfully that can depend on their own beliefs or that of their culture, background etc., and because of these reasons individuals should not be prosecuted on charges of impiety. Socrates trys to express the truth in that an impious thing to one person may be a highly pious thing to another person and that people are never consistent in their beliefs and hence, are not sure of what holiness truly is. This is very evident throughout this dialogue