Plato's Euthyphro Essay
Sasha Saul
PHI 102 (FYS55)
Euthyphro In the selection Euthyphro by Plato, Socrates and Euthyphro are having an argument about what the real meaning of being pious and impious is. While standing on the porch of the King Archon, Euthyphro questions Socrates on his reason for being at the court being that he was sure that Socrates wouldn’t be prosecuting anyone and that it was more than likely the other way around. Socrates informs him that a guy by the name of Meletus was charging him with the crime of corrupting the minds of the youth with his poetry and second guessing of the gods. Socrates then questions Euthyphro on him being at the court and Euthyphro informs him that he is there to prosecute his father for the murder of their servant. Socrates, as anyone would be was taken back by the thought of someone prosecuting their father. Euthyphro let him know that he was a firm believer in piety even if that meant prosecuting his own flesh and blood because to the gods relation doesn’t matter when it comes down to right and wrong. Astonished by his actions, Socrates tells Euthyphro that he would become his disciple and use him as proof to Meletus to show him that he is not impious. Since Meletus believes in the ideas of Euthyphro and Socrates would then be a disciple of Euthyphro it would be no way that he could be impious and continue the suit against him. Before Socrates would become a follower of Euthyphro he wanted a general definition on what piety and impiety was being that he was the master of religion. When questioned, Euthyphro goes on to say that piety is what he is doing which is prosecuting anyone who is guilty of murder, sacrilege or any similar crime no matter who it may be and that not prosecuting. Socrates then tells him that he did not ask for example but he wanted to hear a more precise answer on what makes an pious things to be pious. To answer the question more precisely Euthyphro tells him that piety is that which is dear to
PHI 102 (FYS55)
Euthyphro In the selection Euthyphro by Plato, Socrates and Euthyphro are having an argument about what the real meaning of being pious and impious is. While standing on the porch of the King Archon, Euthyphro questions Socrates on his reason for being at the court being that he was sure that Socrates wouldn’t be prosecuting anyone and that it was more than likely the other way around. Socrates informs him that a guy by the name of Meletus was charging him with the crime of corrupting the minds of the youth with his poetry and second guessing of the gods. Socrates then questions Euthyphro on him being at the court and Euthyphro informs him that he is there to prosecute his father for the murder of their servant. Socrates, as anyone would be was taken back by the thought of someone prosecuting their father. Euthyphro let him know that he was a firm believer in piety even if that meant prosecuting his own flesh and blood because to the gods relation doesn’t matter when it comes down to right and wrong. Astonished by his actions, Socrates tells Euthyphro that he would become his disciple and use him as proof to Meletus to show him that he is not impious. Since Meletus believes in the ideas of Euthyphro and Socrates would then be a disciple of Euthyphro it would be no way that he could be impious and continue the suit against him. Before Socrates would become a follower of Euthyphro he wanted a general definition on what piety and impiety was being that he was the master of religion. When questioned, Euthyphro goes on to say that piety is what he is doing which is prosecuting anyone who is guilty of murder, sacrilege or any similar crime no matter who it may be and that not prosecuting. Socrates then tells him that he did not ask for example but he wanted to hear a more precise answer on what makes an pious things to be pious. To answer the question more precisely Euthyphro tells him that piety is that which is dear to