Euthyphro

 The dialogue gives readers an opportunity to understand what holiness is, and look at it through the prism of their own perception. The Plato’s work represents a discussion between Socrates and Euthyphro, in which the last one gives some definitions of piety, while Socrates tries to show him that his statements are rather controversial. It makes readers think about different issues that concern philosophy and human existence. This paperwork is an example from academic essays database that is in free access online.

Of course, two men start their conversation for a particular reason. Everything starts when they meet each other outside the court of Athens. Euthyphro appears at the court for accusing his father of an accidental murder of a hired homicidal hand. Socrates in turn comes to the court on custodies of irreverence by Meletus. Socrates decides to make Euthyphro a great compliment concerning his solid knowledge of holiness and peccability. He suggests that because it must be an explanation why Euthyphro is going to blame his father. The man absolutely agrees with the statement that he is probably very wise. He says that he knows everything about piety. Having heard that, Socrates asks Euthyphro to help him understand what holiness is since he might need it in order to succeed in a court against Meletus.

They start teaching, and Euthyphro tells Socrates that piety is represented in pursuing those people who break the religious rules. However, there are obviously a great amount of sacred deeds besides pursuing such offenders. Therefore, this definition is not proper enough for Socrates. Therefore, he asks Euthyphro to give a definition of one of the features that all holy actions contain. Then Euthyphro answers that all the deeds, which can please the gods, are holy. Socrates, however, does not reject this opinion, though he does not agree with it; he only questions it. His idea is that the gods often have some arguments, so it might be so that the same deed cannot please all the gods. The next suggestion of Euthyphro concerning holiness is based on a belief that piety is a type of justice, which implies paying attention to the gods. This statement seems rather ridiculous to Socrates, and he explains Euthyphro that the gods do not need any attention or help etc. The last Euthyphro’s attempt to explain what piety is also crowned with a fail as he says that holiness reminds an exchange with the gods, where people present them sacrifices and they award their pleas. Socrates’s answer is that this opinion resembles the previous one by its sense.

Socrates’s goal in this dialogue is obvious. He is trying to make Euthyphro realize that, in fact, he is not aware enough of the phenomenon he is talking about. Euthyphro only thinks that he knows a lot about piety. However, each of his definitions appears to be controversial and very questionable. Moreover, there are no concrete thoughts and statements in his words. With his questions that make a person think about the laws of human being, Socrates proves Euthyphro that his knowledge of holiness, impiety and existence at all is rather poor. The way Socrates does it is very mature since he does not tell Euthyphro that he is wrong; instead he asks for more clarification, and while trying to explain his position, Euthyphro has an opportunity to realize that he is not so much right in his conclusions. It questions that doubting all the Euthyphro’s answers help to understand the main goal of Socrates. In fact, all the questions and answers that this dialogue contains are the features that align with my interpretation of Socrates’s goal.

My Definition of Piety/Holiness

First and foremost, piety or holiness is represented by pure thoughts of a person. Since thoughts generate deeds, they are very important. In addition, piety is a devotion to the gods, believing in them and being grateful to them.

A Possible Socratic Response

So what do you mean? If you think that it would be good to heal all the ill people, then you are holy? Give me some examples of pure thoughts. I would also like to know what you mean by devotion to the gods. I think that Socrates would not reject my definition of piety, but he would ask me some leading questions. Perhaps, if I answered these questions in a proper way, he would agree with me. Otherwise, I would have to answer some more philosophical questions.

To sum up, this dialogue between Socrates and Euthyphro is a rather interesting work by Plato. With its philosophical directionality, it makes readers think about many issues of human being. The sense of the dialogue is rather clear since it is not much covert. For the case if a reader is not able to understand something himself/herself, there are Socrates’s suggestive questions, which lead to being engrossed in deep thoughts. Moreover, the dialogue shows how people are sometimes too self-confident. They think that they know everything. However, when a person is sure that he/she is wise enough, it means that he/she has stopped his/her evaluation and self-development. From that very moment that a person says that he or she is wise, he/she will never become wise until he/she realizes that he/she is not wise at all. In fact, there is always something that one can learn.