What is Socrates trying to say in Euthyphro?
Socrates urges Euthyphro to instruct him and to teach him what holiness is, since Euthyphro’s teaching might help Socrates in his trial against Meletus. First, Euthyphro suggests that holiness is persecuting religious offenders.
What does Euthyphro say piety is?
Definition 1 – Euthyphro. Piety is what the Gods love and Impiety is what the Gods hate. Objections to Definition 1. There are many Gods, whom all may not agree on what particular things are pious or impious. It therefore means that certain acts or deeds could therefore be considered both pious and impious.
What is piety According to Socrates?
Euthyphro’s second definition: Piety is what is pleasing to the gods. (6e–7a) Socrates applauds this definition, because it is expressed in a general form, but criticizes it saying that the gods disagree among themselves as to what is pleasing.
What is piety Euthyphro and Socrates?
Summary. Plato’s dialog called Euthyphro relates a discussion that took place between Socrates and Euthyphro concerning the meaning of piety, or that virtue usually regarded as a manner of living that fulfills one’s duty both to gods and to humanity.
How does Socrates use the Socratic method in Euthyphro?
When Euthyphro offers a definition of piety, Socrates asks questions that expose contradictions in Euthyphro’s claims. For example, Euthyphro suggests that piety is what the gods love, But Socrates argues that the gods often disagree, so what is loved by one god might be hated by another.
What is the very first answer definition of piety that Euthyphro gives to Socrates?
Definiton 1: Euthyphro’s first definition of piety is what he is doing now, that is, prosecuting his father for manslaughter (5d).
Why does Socrates claim he wants to hear from Euthyphro about piety?
Piety is what is dear to the gods and impiety is that which is not dear to them. Socrates says it is not clear what makes anything dear to the gods, and what is dear to some of them ma not be dear to the others. Euthyphro then insists that piety is that which is pleasing to all of the gods.
How does Euthyphro first define piety?
SWARTHMORE COLLEGE. At 7a Euthyphro proposes his first definition of piety and impiety: what the gods like is pious, and what they dislike is impious. Socrates notes that the gods supposedly disagree about many things, and that there seem to be some things that are both loved and hated by the gods.
What is the main theme of Euthyphro?
Euthyphro: What is Piety? The main theme of the argument being debated in Euthyphro is what constitutes piety. Socrates and the title character are both involved in lawsuits involving accusations of impiety. When Socrates pushes the Sophist to define the term, all he can do is provide examples.
What is the purpose of Euthyphro?
The definition that Euthyphro holds equates what is holy with what is approved of by the gods. Socrates’ skillful argument shows that this definition is insufficient: though what is holy may be approved of by the gods, the two cannot be the same thing.
Does Socrates really believe Euthyphro is wise about the nature of piety Support your answer with text?
Support your answer with text. Socrates does not really believe that Euthyphro is wise about the nature of piety. Proven by the quote above, Euthyphro cannot provide Socrates with an adequate definition, so (Socrates) must continue with his inquisition.
Why does Socrates want Euthyphro to instruct him do you think he really expects to be helped?
Do you think he really expects to be helped? I think he does wish to be helped and he wants Euthyphro to instruct him because he wants to learn impious and pious actions.
What does Socrates say to Euthyphro about piety?
Socrates flatters Euthyphro’s ego, suggesting that Euthyphro of all people knows about matters pertaining gods, but contends that Euthyphro has merely given him an example of pious behavior, and not a definition of piety that will apply to all cases. Socrates asks Euthyphro to tell him what distinguishes all pious actions from all impious actions.
What does Socrates mean by piety according to Plato?
The first definition that Euthyphro provides to Socrates is that “the pious is to do what I am doing now to prosecute the wrongdoer” (Plato, Euthyphro, Grube trans., p. 9). This is merely an example of piety, and Socrates is seeking a definition, not one or two pious actions.
What is Socrates’objection to Euthyphro’s theory?
Socrates’ Objection: According to Euthyphro, the gods sometimes disagree among themselves about questions of justice. So some things are loved by some gods and hated by others. On this definition, these things will be both pious and impious, which makes no sense. 3rd Definition: Piety is what is loved by all the gods.
Where does Socrates meet Euthyphro?
Socrates encounters Euthyphro outside the court of Athens. Socrates has been called to court on charges of impiety by Meletus, and Euthyphro has come to prosecute his own father for having unintentionally killed a murderous hired hand.