In this essay I will explain the 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 First Euthrophy defines holiness as what is he doing as prosecuting his father is essential because it has incurred the religious principles. But Socrates rejects this definition as it was just an example of piety and it was not sufficient to reveal the foundational attributes of piety (Plato, 2013). Euthyphro’s second attend to define piety there is no different of opinion, either among gods or men, as to the propriety of pushing a murderer. Socrates rejects when they know him to be a murderer; but you are assuming the point at issue (Plato, 2013).
Euthypro’s third attend to define holiness explains that simply that piety meaning is to please the gods in word and deed, by prayers and sacrifices. Socrates rejects the definition because piety is a science asking and giving—what we want and giving what they want; in a short, a mode of doing business between god and men (Plato, 2013). What Socrates has shown is that Euthyphro has failed to explains what pious is, what it is that the gods love and why they love it. Indeed it is not clear where Euthyphro understand why anything happens or how anything works. Socrates is goal in the way Euthyphro is set up. There is a clear touch of dryness in the way Socrates compliments Euthyphro's knowledge of great man and asks to be teach by him. He actually know he will not learn from Euthyphro, but hopes to lead Euthyphro to bring him me out, and show him the false reality his has being living in. Socrates' method is not to tell Euthyphro that he is wrong in stating that he is a knowledgeable on religious matters, but instated would rather test him by questioning (Plato, 2013). By Socrates’s asking Euthyphro the definition of holy, Socrates was able to understand that Euthyphro has no understanding at all. In conclusion to me piety is to me is worshiping God to the best you can. Since, I really have no idea i what God wants, a truly blessed person chooses to trust in what he really believe in order to get close to gods. Either way piety becomes can sometime become a lie, just because religious is not always taught correctly. Socrates’s would define that is correct, that how can us certain what really God needs from us, Since churches don’t let us explore gods religious bibles and don’t let the public heard the true about God needs and wants.
Reference
Plato, & Jowett, B. (n.d.). Euthyphro. Project Gutenberg. Retrieved from http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1642 Mosser, K. (2010). A concise introduction to philosophy. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. https://content.ashford.edu/books/AUPHI208.11.1
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
What is piety and impiety? This broad question is exactly what Euthyphro and Socrates debate about the true meaning of these two words. When society hears the word piety, they think of worship for God or religious fulfillment of sacred obligations. However, when Socrates attends the king's court on charges of impiety by Meletus, he encounters Euthyphro there who is going to prosecute his own father for accidentally killing one of his workers. Even though Socrates feels that Euthyphro has courage for prosecuting his own father on a charge that can be seen as disputable, Euthyphro mentions that he still knows everything about the true meaning of being holy. At this point, Socrates exhorts Euthyphro to teach him what holiness is and help his trial against Meletus. This well known debate has different views amongst each other as well as how others who read about the two view their argument and whether or not it is accurate or simply bogus.…
- 1042 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
This reading is so confusing, I read it three times and still have some confusion about the Socrates statements. Basically, it is a conversation or arguments between Socrates and Euthyphro. Socrates is in the court because a man whose name is Meletus prosecuted him about corrupting the youth. Therefore, Euthyphro is in the court to prosecute his father for the murder of the servant. It is not proven that his father is killer but Euthyphro is trying to get justice on behalf of the servant. Euthyphro thinks that a person has to pay if he/she does something impiety. Euthyphro explains that piety is something the dear to god and impiety is the thing that you do and god does not like. Euthyphro is trying to explain Socrates that he has knowledge…
- 269 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Socrates during this conversation with Euthyphro works to grasp the full understaind of this elusive concept and tries with everything he knows to use logic to understand what the meaning of holiness is, where is came from, and why it has benefits. This paper I will try to explain the concept of holiness as it emerges and identify the three different definitions of piety that Euthyphro uses to help get Socrates to understand. In addition this paper will point out what Socrates goal for this discussion was and also create an argument of my definition of holiness.…
- 907 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
While there are varying characterizations and notions about what constitutes piety, in Euthyphro by Plato, an attempt is made to formulate an ultimate definition for what is pious and what is impious. According to Euthyphro, the most reasonable explanation of piety is tending to the gods, showing reverence and respect for them, or ultimately, doing anything benefitting to the gods. Piety can be narrowed down into simpler terms; it consists of everything that all the gods love, while impiety is everything that all the gods hate. Socrates emphasizes the belief…
- 1644 Words
- 7 Pages
Powerful Essays -
In an analysis of Plato’s Euthyphro, Peter Geach claims that Socrates commits the Socratic fallacy when he refuses Euthyphro’s first definition of piety. Socrates rejects the definition given because it does not give a formal definition of what piety is, but instead offers examples of things and actions that are pious. Geach believes that this is a substantial fallacy committed by Socrates, one that may prevent him from getting at the truth of the matter. I will first expand on Geach’s Socratic fallacy, as well as explain why this fallacy presents itself as a problem for Geach. Then I will examine Euthyphro to see if Geach is correct in assuming that Socrates commits the Socratic fallacy. In addition to Euthyphro, I will look at another one…
- 583 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
In the Euthyphro dialogue, Socrates poses the question: “And is then all that is just pious? Or is all that is pious just, but not all that is just pious, but some of it is and some is not?” (11e-12a). Socrates answers this question by claiming piety is a subset of justice: “This is the kind of thing I was asking before, whether where there is piety there is also justice, but where there is not always piety, for the pious is part of justice” (12d). This can be understood as that if there is piety, there is justice, but if there is justice, there is not necessarily piety. Justice, then, is a category that contains piety. Moreover, justice is a dichotomous category containing two types of justice: piety, as mentioned, and care of men, or good will towards men. Piety, then, is “care of the gods, while that concerned with the care of men is the remaining part of justice” (12e). Caring for other men entails that one must do what is for “the good and the benefit of the object cared for” (13b). This further entails that one should not harm others since harm is not for the good or benefit of fellow men. In fact, for Socrates, doing harm is identical to doing wrong, which is clear when he states that “doing people harm is no different from wrongdoing” (49c). Furthermore, since all doing of harm is wrong, even vengeance is wrong because vengeance is doing wrong in return for wrong received. This consequentialist ethic required Socrates to refuse to attempt an escape from his impending execution despite his friend’s suggestion since to break the Athenian law and sentence which Socrates agreed to would be harming the state and paying vengeance (see…
- 2410 Words
- 10 Pages
Powerful Essays -
In Plato’s Euthyphro, Socrates questions Euthyphro, a religious expert, who he runs into outside of a courthouse in Athens. Socrates was being indicted on the charges of corrupting the youth, and Euthyphro was prosecuting his own father for murder. Socrates was bewildered as to why Euthyphro would indict his own blood of a crime. In an attempt to explain to Socrates why it was the right thing to do, Euthyphro proclaims that he is acting piously by taking his father to court. Euthyphro adds that his relatives are mad at him because “it is impious for a son to prosecute his father for murder. But their ideas of the divine attitude to piety and impiety are wrong” (4e). Because of this, Socrates enquires about what Euthyphro believes piety truly is, to which he provides his four definitions that Socrates ultimately disagrees with.…
- 397 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
In Euthyphro, Euthyphro is prosecuting his father for manslaughter. Euthyphro states that it does not matter if the person his father killed was a relative or stranger. Instead, it mattered on the subject of whether or not the act of murder was justified or not. Socrates tries to understand Euthyphro’s definition of what is pious and what is impious, but does not get the answer he is looking for. Every answer Euthyphro gives Socrates finds a flaw in the definition. Socrates is looking for an answer that has a general form and essence. The form is the definition itself, while the essence or substance is something that we can grasp without the definition.…
- 549 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Socrates and Euthyphro unexpectedly run into each other outside of the Athens courthouse. Euthyphro went to the courthouse to prosecute his father for killing one of his servants, who was a murderer. Socrates was summoned to court to be charged with disturbing the youth. After Euthyphro stated his business at the courthouse, Socrates assumes that he must be a religious expert if he is willing to prosecute his own father on such a serious charge. Euthyphro then agrees with Socrates that he does indeed know all there is to know about what is holy. Socrates asks Euthyphro to teach him what holiness is, in hope that it will help with his trial.…
- 516 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Socrates is anxious to find out about the nature of piety since Meletus has accused him of the crime of impiety. Socrates addresses this question to Euthyphro, "What is piety?" Euthyphro answers that piety is bringing charges against one who has done wrong, even though that person happens to be his own father. Socrates is not satisfied with that answer and insist that a proper definition of piety must include all parts of morality.…
- 447 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
The idea of piety – being holy or religious – began in Euthyphro. In this dialogue, Socrates is asking Euthyphro to define what it means to be holy or religious. However, they keep going back and forth with this idea, as Socrates questions Euthyphro each time he comes up with a new definition. For instance, when initially trying to define it Euthyphro states that him fighting against his father on a murder charge is a pious act. However, Socrates rejects that idea on the grounds that it is an example, and not a legitimate definition of piety. In the next example, Euthyphro gives a slightly better definition, in which he states that piety is what appeases the Gods. While Socrates initially likes this definition better, since it isn’t an example,…
- 228 Words
- 1 Page
Good Essays -
Euthyphro claims to fully understand with complete accuracy the divine law of piety and impiety. However, through the dialogue he offers four distinct definitions of piety, some with clear contradiction. Socrates finds flaws in each of his definitions and continues to pry for a complete answer.…
- 1027 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
Euthyphro’s famous dilemma concerning the nature of piety poses the question, is piety an act or thing that is loved by the God’s? Whether an act is right or wrong, just or unjust, the truth or a lie, and pious or impious are all sources of controversial debates that are problematic within the human race. Drawing a line between these particular contradictions is difficult because of cultural differences, values, moral, and religious beliefs within society, which is in the case with Socrates and Euthyphro.…
- 886 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Euthyphro’s second definition is that piety is that which is dear to the gods. In other words, actions that are pleasing to the gods are pious, and actions that are displeasing to them are impious. Socrates pretends to be pleased with this definition because Euthyphro seems as if he may have finally provided a model with which to measure all pious things. Euthyphro states that actions being pleasing to the gods provides a standard that should enable everyone to recognize what is pious and what is impious. Socrates reminds him that piety and impiety are not the same thing, they are opposites. The gods do not seem to agree on much of anything, let alone that which is just or good, and certainly that which is pleasing.…
- 813 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
For these two articles that we read in Crito and Apology by Plato, we could know Socrates is an enduring person with imagination, because he presents us with a mass of contradictions: Most eloquent men, yet he never wrote a word; ugliest yet most profoundly attractive; ignorant yet wise; wrongfully convicted, yet unwilling to avoid his unjust execution. Behind these conundrums is a contradiction less often explored: Socrates is at once the most Athenian, most local, citizenly, and patriotic of philosophers; and yet the most self-regarding of Athenians. Exploring that contradiction, between ¡§Socrates the loyal Athenian citizen¡¨ and ¡§Socrates the philosophical critic of Athenian society,¡¨ will help to position Plato¡¦s Socrates in an Athenian legal and historical context; it allows us to reunite Socrates the literary character and Athens the democratic city that tried and executed him. Moreover, those help us to understand Plato¡¦s presentation of the strange legal and ethical drama.…
- 1653 Words
- 7 Pages
Better Essays