The primary philosophical issue about which Socrates and Euthyphro are in disagreement?
What is the primary philosophical issue which Socrates and Euthyphro are in disagreement? The primary philosophical issue Euthyphro and Socrates disagree on is “what is holy and what is not holy” p7, 5c11-d2. Socrates extracts Euthyphro’s thoughts on what the definition of holy verse unholy is in an attempt to use them in his own trial, and later to show Euthyphro that his ideology is flawed. Socrates takes the side of essential knowledge (the nature of something). Euthyphro takes the side of particular knowledge (the characteristics of knowledge). Euthyphro says “I’d say the holy is just what I’m doing now: prosecuting wrongdoers, whether in cases of murder or temple-robbery, or those guilty of any other such offense, be they one’s father or mother or anyone else whatever; and failing to prosecute is unholy” p7, 5d10-e3. Euthyphro believes it his duty to be a voice for the man that has died because no one else will do the morally correct action. Socrates says “Then don’t you realize that now you’re equating holy with what the gods love” p15, c7-8. Socrates unfolds a long and twisting sequence of questions to try and find out what the exact definition of holy is from Euthyphro. Socrates questions Euthyphro because Euthyphro claims to be an expert on religion.
The first logical mistake Euthyphro makes is “gods disagree on what is holy and unholy” p9, 8a5-8. Euthyphro tells Socrates that “what is agreeable to the gods is holy, and what is not agreeable to them is unholy” p8, 6e14-7a1. Euthyphro says this because this makes logical sense to him. Once Socrates delves deeper into the statement it becomes less of a straight-forward answer. Socrates says “So by this argument, Euthyphro, the same things would be both holy and unholy” p9, 8a10-12, and Euthyphro agrees.
The second mistake Euthyphro makes is “The holy is what is loved by all the gods” p9, 8a5-8. This is a difficult statement to stand behind because the opinions of the god’s differ
The first logical mistake Euthyphro makes is “gods disagree on what is holy and unholy” p9, 8a5-8. Euthyphro tells Socrates that “what is agreeable to the gods is holy, and what is not agreeable to them is unholy” p8, 6e14-7a1. Euthyphro says this because this makes logical sense to him. Once Socrates delves deeper into the statement it becomes less of a straight-forward answer. Socrates says “So by this argument, Euthyphro, the same things would be both holy and unholy” p9, 8a10-12, and Euthyphro agrees.
The second mistake Euthyphro makes is “The holy is what is loved by all the gods” p9, 8a5-8. This is a difficult statement to stand behind because the opinions of the god’s differ