Piety

The dialogue for this essay stems from two men meeting in the Kings court, as they were both awaiting trial. While waiting Socrates is astonished to learn that Euthyphro is there to bring charges against his own father for murdering one of the families’ field hands. In this essay I will give my interpretation of piety, and explain how there is no right, or wrong meaning for the term piousness.
The conference between Socrates, and Euthyphro was held on the porch of King Archon, Euthyphro was surprised to see Socrates, and inquired why he was there. “Surely you cannot be concerned in a suit before the King, like myself” (Plato). Socrates explains to Euthyphro that a young bearded beaked man is prosecuting him for corrupting young Athenians. One of the accusations that Meletus is holding against Socrates is that he was a great poet, maker of Gods, which the he invented new ones, and denied the existence of the present ones. For his wrongdoing, his actions were grounds for indictment. Socrates asks again of Euthyphro why is he dwelling in the courtyard of the King. Euthyphro explains that he is there to prosecute his father for murdering one of the families’ field hands.
He goes on to say that, there was a disagreement between his families’ workers. On this particular evening, the field hand was intoxicated, entered into a quarrel with the houses domestic, and attacked him. My father was fearful for the workers life and he bound his hands, and feet to a wooden plank and through him into a ditch. My father sent a messenger into town to seek the Diviner, to ask him what to do in this situation. In the interim, the bounded worker perished. He was left unattended while the messenger seeks direction, and he died of starvation, as he did not receive any water or food while he was in the ditch. Euthyphros family is ashamed at the thought that he would take part in the processions of this own father. Euthyphro feels that his father caused his death, and should be held accountable for his actions, just like any other person.

Socrates questions Euthyphro’s knowledge of piety, and impiety, and how exact his barring on religion is; that would bring him to imprison his own father. Socrates asks Euthyphro what is the meaning of piety, and impiety. He explains that piety is “doing as I am doing; that is to say prosecuting anyone who is guilty of murder, sacrilege, or any similar crime”(Plato). He agrees with Socrates that no matter whom the person is in question, they are to be treated the same way, and to not to try them is piety. Socrates responds to Euthyphros to stop making excuses for his pious actions. Socrates reminds Euthyphro that he did not ask him to give three definitions on piety, but to give general examples of what makes all pious things to be pious. Socrates asks Euthyphro to tell him the nature of his ideas. While expressing his feelings, Socrates questions the thought of Euthyphro, and asks him to rationalize his thoughts. Rationalism is often contrasted with empiricism in its commitment to innate ideas that people are born with and belief that the senses do not lead to truth but may interfere with reason, which is the real source of the truth (Mosser, 2010). Euthyphro states, “Piety is what is dear to the Gods, and the impiety is that which is not dear to them” (Plato). Socrates congratulates Euthyphro for his partial correct response to the definition of piety. He tells him that the Gods are pleased with his answer, but Socrates refutes his second definition by telling him that, even the Gods agree to disagree on topics. Euthyphros third interpretation of holiness is that all the Gods would agree that the propriety of punishing a murder” there would be no differences. Socrates questions Euthyphros thoughts by asking him does he think that pious is loved by all God, because it is holy.

This dialogue between Euthyphro and Socrates explains how Euthyphro tied to tare down Socrates by showing that he was uneducated on the meaning of holiness. Socrates tells Euthyphro that his notion of him being an expert is foiled, because his remarks remind him on his ancestor Daedalus. Socrates entire existence and badgering of Euthyphro is all due to the information that he obtained from someone else. Furthermore, his goal was to show there is no right, or wrong answer to the question of holiness. Everyone has their own interpretation of situations, based on their own religious beliefs. When Euthyphro explains his definition of holiness, provides a general example of piousness. Socrates questions his every word, by trying to shift is belief about what the true meaning of holiness is. He contradicts what Euthyphro says is his personal interpretation of holiness, this causes him to change what he perceives as the definition per the remarks from Socrates.

Holiness is any type of activity done in a manner that will please the Gods. If any action completed is pious, the Gods will be joyous, with the situation or me. To some Gods my act could be pious, and Socrates would refute my definition because what pleases one God does not please another. The definition or term pious, and impious are illogical because either belief can be noted to be truth if the Gods cannot come to a common ground on which terms can be agreed upon.

In the meeting in the Kings courtyard, Euthyphro, and Socrates are both awaiting trial. One had charges brought against him that he was corrupting the young mines, of the Athenians teens, and the other was there to bring charges against his own father for murdering a field hand. While waiting they embark on a conversation of piety, and holiness. It was determined that only the Gods of the universe can voice what is holy, or unholy.

Reference
Mosser, K. (2010) Philosophy: A Concise Introduction. San Diego, California: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved from: https://content.ashford.edu

Plato (2013) Project Gutenberg. Retrieved from: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1642/1642-h/1642-h.htm