Euthyphro

Euthyphro

Answer to Part “a”

Euthyphro is one of the early dialogues presented by Plato in the year 399 BC. These dialogues have been one of the most famous ones. Not only has this, but the dialogues also features Euthyphro and Socrates who was a religious expert and tried his best to explain piety and holiness in his own way. In the Euthyphro, the concept of holiness emerges as Socrates and Euthyphro are discussing how Euthyphro's father is accused of murder (Furley, 1985). They start off by discussing if the murder was just or not. If the murder was just then Euthyphro has a duty to let the matter be. If the murder was unjust then action should be taken against him. Euthyphro then states that “A son is impious who prosecutes a father (Furley, 1985). 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.

Answer to Part “b”

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 hold dear and impiety is that which is ...