Euthyphro Case
Essay by rlw73145 • January 18, 2014 • Essay • 810 Words (4 Pages) • 1,691 Views
This story of Euthyphro, was one of the first documented by Plato.
It documents the debate between Euthyphro, a religious expert and Socrates
concerning the definition of "piety". Both men were on trial for different
offenses and met in King Archon's court.
Socrates was facing trial for "impiety" (unholiness) and sought better
understanding of religious law. Euthyphro was seeking to punish his father for
the murder of a slave in Naxos. The accused murderer was placed into a ditch
until religious interpreters provided guidance for punishment. While in
captivity, the accused murderer died from hunger and exposure. Socrates felt
confident that he would learn the nature of piety and impiety since Euthyphro
easily charged his father with this offense. What is piety?
Euthyphro's initial response is, "that piety is doing as I do, prosecuting
your father (if he is guilty) on a charge of murder; doing as the gods do."
Socrates didn't consider this as a definition but as an example of piety.
Understanding the confusion, Euthyphro decided to provide another definition.
Euthyphro's next response was, "Piety is what is dear to the gods, and
impiety is what is not dear to them." Socrates challenged this definition as well.
Socrates questioned if there aren't differences of opinion amongst gods as there
are with men? Do they not debate about what's considered as good and evil?
Therefore, what may be dear to one god may not be dear to another, and the
same action may or may not be piety. Euthyphro tries to convince Socrates that
there are no differences of opinion, either among gods or men when it comes to
punishing a murderer. Socrates responded that Euthyphro was assuming that
there were no differences of opinion. He questioned if there were ways of
showing that all the gods were in agreement of Euthyphro's father's
prosecution. Euthyphro tries to amend his definition to say, "What ALL the gods
love is piety, and what they ALL hate is impiety." Socrates again disagrees,
stating that the unanimous approval of the gods is another example of piety and
not the definition.
Socrates then decides to help with defining piety. He asks Euthyphro if
everything that we consider good in the world is piety and vice versa. He
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