...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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...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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...Euthyphro from Plato's Five Dialogues, Socrates discuss with Euthyphro to the question "What is piety?” Euthyphro responded with and answer to Socrates many different definitions of piety but really not one of the answers Socrates likes. For every definition that Socrates gets from Euthyphro, Socrates would have a debate about it. With One of Euthyphro attempt to the definition of piety is "what is dear to the gods is pious, what is not is impious” Although this definition was answered in the way that Socrates wanted it, Socrates still isn’t satisfied that the answer to this definition is true. This ends up with Euthyphro to state, "the pious is what all the gods love, and the opposite, what all the gods hate, is the impious” that is to say that, because pious is loved by all of the gods it is being loved and it is dear to each of the gods. Euthyphro who is certain at this point is very confident that he gave the best statement but is yet again being disagreed by Socrates. Socrates refuses to believe that the "god-beloved” isn’t the exact same as the pious neither is the pious the similar as the god-beloved. Socrates disputes...
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... 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 with piety himself he thought Euthyphro would be able to tech him something...
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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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...1. While Socrates and Euthyphro talk outside the king’s porch, Euthyphro tells Socrates that he is there to accuse his old father for killing one of his employees. Socrates surprised, answers that it should not be an easy task to accuse his own family that perhaps if it were a stranger would otherwise. An indignant Euthyphro replies that it is ridiculous to think if it is family or not, the only thing should be consider is whether the murderer did fairly or not. To this fact, Socrates suspected Euthyphro is a wise man, and possesses knowledge of what is piety and thus makes it known to Euthyphro, to which he affirm that he is, by the grace of Zeus, that this makes him different from the rest of the Athenians. 2. Socrates presses Euthyphro to define what piety is, because despite the multiple attempts, Euthyphro does to define it and does not succeed on his answers. Socrates brings down all his explanations using his dialectic method. Even so Euthyphro insist on knowing what piety is, so Socrates continues to insist and demand a clear proof of what is piety. After several attempts the only thing that he manages to say is, that holy is what he does, when he accused his father of murder. Socrates asked Euthyphro not to taught him one or two holy things, but rather to teach clearly what is what makes things holy, since...
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...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...
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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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...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 in his words, because of being impious."An action or a man dear to the gods is...
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...According to Socrates to create a definition, you must go through the dissection and collection process. To begin the method, defining the object must occur followed by an example to get...
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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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...Euthyphro By Plato（Written 380 B.C.E） Euthyphro. Why have you left the Lyceum, Socrates? and what are you doing in the Porch of the King Archon? Surely you cannot be concerned in a suit before the King, like myself? Socrates. Not in a suit, Euthyphro; impeachment is the word which the Athenians use. Euth. What! I suppose that some one has been prosecuting you, for I cannot believe that you are the prosecutor of another. Soc. Certainly not. Euth. Then some one else has been prosecuting you? Soc. Yes. Euth. And who is he? Soc. A young man who is little known, Euthyphro; and I hardly know him: his name is Meletus, and he is of the deme of Pitthis. Perhaps you may remember his appearance; he has a beak, and long straight hair, and a beard which is ill grown. Euth. No, I do not remember him, Socrates. But what is the charge which he brings against you? Soc. What is the charge? Well, a very serious charge, which shows a good deal of character in the young man, and for which he is certainly not to be despised. He says he knows how the youth are corrupted and who are their corruptors. I fancy that he must be a wise man, and seeing that I am the reverse of a wise man, he has found me out, and is going to accuse me of corrupting his young friends. And of this our mother the state is to be the judge. Of all our political men he is the only one who seems to me to begin in the right way, with the cultivation of virtue in youth; like a good husbandman...
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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 and Socrates meet to discuss the nature of piety and impiety. Through Socratic examination, Socrates challenges Euthyphro’s religious beliefs through questioning the underlying presumptions which constituent the fundamental belief of what is a right and wrong decision for Euthyphro and his religious followers. In this series of discussion, Euthyphro concludes with a variation of answers which differs from his previous conclusion. The first assumption that Euthyphro claims is that piety is to prosecute those who are unjust, also known as the impious, against the will of the righteous gods. Socrates rejects this definition, in which he states that here must be something, a standard of some sort that makes each impious act deemed to...
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...dialogue between Socrates and Euthyphro after Socrates appears in court to respond to the charges of impiety and corrupting the youth are brought against him. The concept of piety and holiness takes a prominent position in the conversation because it is the reason behind Socrates’ impending trial. There he encounters Euthyphro, who reveals to Socrates that he is prosecuting his father for murder to which Socrates is almost sarcastically in awe. This concept takes a prominent position in conversation because Socrates questions the definition of piety and holiness, and questions Euthyphro if his knowledge of religion and things both pious and impious that he’s not afraid of being impious by bringing action against his own father (Plato and Jowett, n.d.). Over the course of the conversation, Euthyphro presents multiple definitions, through his own interpretation, of what piety is. The first definition presented by Euthyphro is “that piety is doing as I do, prosecuting you father (if he is guilty) on a charge of murder; doing as the gods do-as Zeus did to Cronos, and Cronos to Uranus” (Plato & Jowett, n.d.). Socrates’ feels that his dislike of the mythologies is what causing him to be charged with impiety, He goes on to refute this “definition” by stating “doing as I do, charging a father with murder, may be a single instance of piety, but can hardly be regarded as a general definition” (Plato & Jowett, n.d.). The second definition given by Euthyphro is that “piety is what is...
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