...Socrates Search for the Meaning of Piety Despite that there are a significant amount of atheists, religions and cultures throughout the world, piety is still relevant to today’s society. But what does it really mean? Euthyphro is a strong believer that he contains the divine knowledge of what the God’s deliberate to be pious. Euthyphro provided numerous definitions to Socrates throughout the dialogue, none of which seemed to satisfy Socrates. I will analyze the transitions and the circular pattern of conversation between Socrates and Euthyphro, where they are attempting to make a reasonable definition of the term “piety” and try to articulate what it really means. In order to define piety, it is necessary to understand what role the gods played in Athens’ society during Socrates and Euthyphro’s existence. All of society’s wrong doers were seen as insulting the gods. It was considered to be ungodly to do things like hurting your own families or city because these things were considered to be sacred by the gods. This led the wrong doers to be indicted for the sake of the gods. Many of these aspects of piety were unknown to Socrates, which is why he seeks the divine knowledge of Euthyphro. Socrates believes that if he is able to explain to the courts that he has learned the true meaning of piety that his charges may get dismissed. Euthyphro’s first definition of piety that he presented to Socrates referred to Euthyphro prosecuting his father for manslaughter. Euthyphro...
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...the dialogue when Socrates revealed to Euthyphro that he is being charged with corrupting the minds of the youth by defying the gods of their time and creating new gods. Euthyphro then reveals to Socrates that he is a master theologian of the things of gods, and he is prosecuting his father for murder. This sparked curiosity in Socrates as he sees Euthyphro as a rare person prosecuting his father in the name of religion. He then questions what piety is and what is impiety? This question takes a prominent position in the conversation between Socrates and Euthyphro because Socrates always had questions about religion. Secondly, Socrates was being prosecuted for creating his own from of religion which he now questions the validity of piety and impiety. Lastly, Socrates questions Euthyphro’s thought process of him prosecuting his own father in the name of religion which led up to the prominent position between Socrates and Euthyphro. Euthyphro uses three main definitions on what are piety and impiety, and each time Socrates challenges Euthyphro’s thought process on each definition. The first definition that Euthyphro uses is based on the fact that he is prosecuting his father. Euthyphro’s argument was that everyone that does wrong should be punished no matter who does it. Euthyphro justifies his definition by using an example of how Zeus punished his own father, Cronos, in a similar fashion. Socrates says that prosecuting...
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...Socrates on Piety in Justice Towards the end of Plato’s dialogue The Euthyphro, Socrates takes the lead in a debate regarding what defines pious action and uncharacteristically gives significant insight to his own thoughts on what he believes piety to be and its relation to justice. As Socrates poses leading questions on the subject, Euthyphro attempts to reach a concrete definition of piety. At one point he comes very close to doing so, but Socrates quickly and perhaps deliberately changes the direction of the argument back towards uncertainty and confusion. As is the case with most of the Socratic Dialogues, The Euthyphro ends before an agreed conclusion is reached. Towards the end of the dialogue Euthyphro has grown weary of the debate. In an attempt to keep the conversation from losing all momentum, Socrates leads him to assert that piety is only a part of the larger set of justice (12d). This means that what is pious is necessarily just, but what is just is not necessarily pious. Afterwards, Euthyphro defines piety as the part of justice “concerned with tending to the gods, while the remaining part of the just if concerned with tending to human beings” (12e). Socrates focuses on Euthyphro’s use of the word “tend”, and uses his typical method of scrutinization to force Euthyphro into a corner. The argument follows that all tending shares the same aim of benefiting the thing being tended. Therefore, a man’s pious action would actually make the gods better. Euthyphro...
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...the god-loved and the pious were the same, my dear Euthyphro, then if the pious was being loved because it was pious, the god-loved would also be being loved because it was god-loved; and if the god-loved was god-loved because it was being loved by the gods, then the pious would also pious because it was being loved by the gods. But now you see that they are in opposite cases as being altogether different from each other: the one is such as to be loved because it is being loved, the other is being loved because it is such as to be loved.” There were plenty of gods in time of Socrates and Euthyphro but what is liked or disliked by gods was decided by man.When Socrates and Euthyphro encountered in the court, the first thing they asked was "Why he is here?".Socrates was charged by being impious and Euthyphro was charging his father because his father did something impious.In this case, what Socrates did was not believing what all people believe and this action was considered as impiety but, Euthyphro was sending his father to death because his father killed somebody and what Euthyphro was doing is considered as the right thing, even if his father commited crime.In the dialogue we see how the definition of piety and impiety changes from beginning to end of the dialogue.To analyze the question and to understand the difference between god-loved and piety, we should handle the situations from both Socrates' and Euthyphro's point of view. Firstly, Socrates was prosecuted, indicted...
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...matters and comes before the court to slander you. Knowing such things are easy to misrepresent to the majority of people 2. What is Euthyphro’s first definition of piety? Euthyphro offers as his first definition of piety what he is doing now, that is, prosecuting his father for manslaughter 3. Does Socrates accept the stories about the gods? No he does not. 4. What is Euthyphro’s second definition of piety? Euthyphro's second definition: piety is what is pleasing to the gods (6e-7a). 5. What is Euthyphro’s third definition of piety? The third definition reads: What all the gods love is pious, and what they all hate is impious 6. What dilemma does Socrates force upon Euthyphro? Socrates asks whether gods love the pious, because it is the pious, or the pious is the pious, because it is loved by the gods (10a)? In other words: do the gods love something because it is pious, or is something pious because the gods love it? 7. What is Euthyphro’s fourth definition of piety? he then points out a little later, this is still not enough for a definition, since piety belongs to those actions we call just or morally good. 8. Does Euthyphro ever adopt the other horn of the dilemma? Suppose we put the Euthyphro dilemma into a monotheistic context. Suppose further that we use right and wrong rather than pious or impious. The dilemma would then look like this: [Try to fill in the blanks.] * (1) If acts are right (or wrong) because God commands...
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... Socrates is accused for corrupting the young Athenians and not believing in the Gods and is facing trial. Socrates requests that Euthyphro teach him the meaning of piety, when he finds out that Euthyphro is persecuting his father for being impious. Euthyphro gives off attributes instead of the nature of piety. Socrates refutes Euthyphro's responses and persuades him to agree on what Socrates believes. They both agree eventually on piety having to do with justice The concept of holiness emerges into the dialogue from the moment it was known that Socrates was accused for lacking holiness and misrepresenting religious doctrine, and this is why he was facing trial. Socrates ask Euthyphro for the definition of piety and it is when Euthyphro responds the second time telling Socrates that holiness is what is pleasant to the gods, that it comes into notion. Holiness is important in the dialogue not only to prove that Euthyphro was not as wise as he thought but also so Socrates could know the nature of piety and use it to justify himself and his lifestyle. With Euthyphro being a believer of the gods and Socrates not believing in the gods, Socrates criticized Euthyphro's thoughts. Socrates uses elenchos approach with Euthyphro by asking questions of others to try and lead them indirectly to the truth. He is facing trial for this reason, he was accused of this with the young Athenians. When Euthyphro was asked the meaning of piety, he first answered that...
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...During his discussion with Socrates, Euthyphro agrees with much of Socrates reasoning regarding the property of the pious acts and the God-Loved acts. One of these many concessions is that “the Gods love the pious act because it is pious”. This concession ultimately leads to Socrates defeating Euthyphro’s claim. Therefore, Euthyphro should have answered slightly different than just a defeated “yes”. Instead of agreeing to Socrates claims between the god loved acts and the acts that God loves, Euthyphro should have questioned Socrates into the real reason that the causes a God loved act. Socrates argument is that Euthyphro’s claim that a pious act is loved by the gods is not possible. The way in which he does that is by a simple manipulating of language and reason. Socrates introduces the idea of a characteristic on an object depending on the action of another. This is the idea that when a thing is being...
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...conversation between Socrates and Euthyphro. In the Euthyphro, the concept of holiness emerges as Socrates and Euthypho are discussing how Euthypho’s father is accused of murder. They start off my discussing if the murder was just or not. If the murder was just then Euthypho has a duty to let the matter be. If the murder was unjust then action should be taken against him. Euthypho then states that “A son is impious who prosecutes a father. Which shows, Socrates, how little they know what the gods think about piety and impiety.” (Plato, ND) After which Socrates questions what piety and impiety means. This then spurs the conversation towards their concepts of holiness. 2- Present the three definitions that Euthyphro uses in his response to Socrates, and then explain how Socrates refutes each of Euthyphro’s definitions. The first definition that Euthyphro uses is that piety is doing as he is doing, by persecuting any one that is guilty, whether it is of murder, sacrilege or anything that is similar to that. He states that impiety is not punishing those that are guilty of murder or sacrilege. Socrates feels that this is not a definition and isn’t dealt with properly. Socrates refutes this by stating those who prosecute are an example of a holy act and not a definition. He thereby urges Euthyphro to give a more general definition that can be identified as a standard that all other holy deeds could be recognized by. The second definition that he gives is that piety is what the gods...
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...It is quite obvious from the dialogue, that Socrates counters Euthyphro’s definitions and explanations of piety because he considered them inconsistent and contradictory. He found it absurd that Euthyphro assumed his act of prosecuting his own father, pious. Euthyphro’s view of what was right/acceptable was based solely on his own perspective and not on the bigger picture(society). From Socrates’ surprise, it is evident that prosecuting one’s father or relative was not socially acceptable. This begs the question, ‘how can an act be deemed right based on only one’s justification and not by others?’ Just as Socrates countered a definition of piety by Euthyphro, when he said “piety is that which is dear to the gods and impiety is that which is...
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...In Plato’s Euthyphro, Socrates meets Euthyphro at king Archon’s court, where Socrates is on trial for charges of corrupting the youth and not believing in the gods of the city. Euthyphro is at court for putting charges on his father for leaving one of the slaves, a murderer, to die. Euthyphro, a priest, believes that he has a particular knowledge of the term piety and impiety. There is an ongoing battle between Socrates and Euthyphro regarding the intention to find an objective definition for the term piety. This presents the conflict that is it even possible to have an objective definition or a distinct definition of a concept or just a subjective meaning of the concept. In the following paper, it will explain the three definitions of the term pious that Euthyphro presents to Socrates and the dilemma with each of these definitions....
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...| Philosophy 101-01 | 9/21/2012 | | The definition of division causes a basis of argument in Plato’s “Euthyphro”. While awaiting trial, Euthyphro explains that he has brought his father in front of the Judge with a murder charge. The idea of bring one’s own father to court brings forth room for debate between Socrates and Euthyphro. The main question being what is the definition of piety? The main reason that Socrates asks this question is so that he can use the answer to defend himself, but while searching for the definition they find much controversy in Euthyphro’s action of bringing his father to court. It is clear that Socrates is looking for a universal definition of piety, in which all actions can be measure to determine whether or not they are pious. In order for the definition to be universal it must express what is essential about the thing being defined. The word piety was defined several ways throughout the reading. At first Euthyphro explains that “piety is what he is doing now, that is prosecuting his father for manslaughter (Plato 5d ).” Socrates disagrees stating that it was not a definition but simply an example of piety and therefore does not provide a fundamental characteristic which makes a pious thing pious. Euthyphro then continues to explain in his second definition that “piety is what is pleasing to the gods (Plato 6e-7a).” Socrates consents to this definition because it is expressed in a general form, but then criticizes it on the...
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...Euthyphro’s well-known impasse pertaining to the characteristic of piety is one of the many dialogues written by the Greek philosopher Plato detailing the pursuit for wisdom by his mentor, Socrates. This well-known impasse regarding the nature of piety presents the question of whether or not piety is an act or thing loved by the gods? Regardless if an act is considered right or wrong, the truth or a lie, just or unjust, and holy or unholy, all are the basis of contentious debates difficult within society. Finding common ground within these oppositions can be challenging because of the diversity of cultural, religious, and moral values, and beliefs in society. Such is the situation with Socrates and Euthyphro. Plato’s Euthyphro is a discussion that takes place in the Athens courtyard prior to Socrates trial. Socrates faces charges in Athens with impeity for corrupting the youth, and falsifying new Gods. Euthyphro is appearing in court involving prosecution of a case against his own father for impiety. His father permitted a worker, responsible for allowing the death of a slave, restrained in a ditch, by command of Euthyprho’s father who had sent a messenger to ask a priest what to do with him. Before the messenger could return, the prisoner died from hunger and exposure. Socrates is not convinced that Euthyphro is doing the pious thing by prosecuting his father for murder. He urges Euthyphro to teach him about holiness, so he can make his own decision if Euthyphro’s actions...
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...Euthyphro’s Real Knowledge PHI 200 Mind and Machine Instructor: Euthyphro’s Real Knowledge What is piety? What is holiness? Euthyphro thought he had all the answers. Socrates soon shows him that he does not. By definition impiety is a lack of piety; a lack of reverence for God, ungodliness (Credo, Impiety, 2005). Piety would then be the exact opposite. Piety by definition is irreverence for God, or regard for religious obligations (Credo, Piety, 2005). Holiness by definition is the state or character of being holy (Credo, Holiness, 2005). If you ask me Euthyphro gets it all wrong. Socrates and Euthyphro meet on the porch of King Archon. Both men are headed to court. Socrates has been charged with impiety. These charges against Socrates were brought by a man named Meletus (Plato, 2008). Meletus charges that Socrates invents new gods and denies the existence of the old ones (Plato, 2008). Euthyphro is bringing charges of murder against his father (Plato, 2008). Euthyphro’s father had a man bound and thrown in a ditch, after this man had supposedly killed one of the family’s domestic slaves. The father sends a messenger to Athens to find out what he should do with this man. The man ultimately dies of hunger and exposure before the messenger returns. Socrates believing Euthyphro would not bring such charges against his father unless he was very knowledgeable in the nature of piety and impiety (Plato, 2008). Since Socrates was being charged...
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...concept of the holiness emerges and why it takes a prominent position in the conversation between Socrates and Euthyphro. I will also explain the three definitions that Euthyphro uses in his response to Socrates and then present Socrates’s refutation of each of Euthyphro definitions. Also this essay will test my ability to develop my own argument as to what I think Socrates’s goal is in this dialogue. How do you know that is his goal? What features of the dialogue align his goals? I will also give own definition of piety/holiness and then take on the role of Socrates and respond to my own definition as I think he would. Plato conversation set close to the king Archon court were Socrates and Euthrophy cross words. The conversation surround Socrates trying to understand the concept of how gods see piety and impious in mankind. The debate between Socrates and Euthrophy is that Socrates wants a new form of definition for pious and impious needs to man needs to be judge by man not from god’s justice. The concept of holiness explain how to be devout religiously not the act of being love. The conversation emphasize the true meaning of piety and impiety, and important conversation between Socrates and Euthrophy took place because Socrates does not believe in tales mythology and Socrates would like a more reasonable answer to all his questions. At the end of the conversation both Socrates and Euthrypho concluded that holiness as something love by Gods because of stated of being holy ...
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...moral concept of piety reserves ancient prominence among philosophical theories reminiscent of the Occidental World and Western traditions. The particular dynamic associated with this notion, revered piety as a discrete code of conduct to be upheld in the presence of family, close acquaintances, and native Aristocracies. The subject of piety comes into question during the exclusive interaction that transpires between Socrates and Euthyphro during trial procession in King Archon’s Court. The beginning stages of dialogue become initiated as Socrates addresses Euthyphro to explain his interpretation of piety, where Euthyphro responds by alleging that one component of this idea involves the impeachment of sinners, regardless of acknowledging them as your father, mother, or mere acquaintance. Socrates sought to object Euthyphro’s initial statement, by deeming his assertions as insufficient for he merely identified one facet as an example of a pious act, rather than describing its all-encompassing ideals. Euthyphro then attempts to retract his previous statement by counter arguing that piety encompasses all things that are dear to the gods. Socrates sustains opposition to Euthyphro’s response, in that what the gods consider to be sacred or beloved does not reflect similar perceptive opinion from others. Inadequacies presented throughout Euthyphro’s assertions suggest that the definition Socrates is requiring shall postulate a common basis for agreement. As Socrates grants Euthyphro...
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