Essay on Platos Euthyphro - 578 Words

Platos Euthyphro One of the most interesting and influential thinkers of all time was Socrates, whose dedication to careful reasoning helped form the basis for philosophy. Socrates applied logical tricks in the search for the truth. Consequently, his willingness to call everything into question and his determination to accept nothing less than an accurate account of the nature of things made him one of the first people to apply critical philosophy. Although he was well known for his philosophical ways of thinking, Socrates never wrote anything down, so we are dependent on his students, like Plato, for any detailed knowledge of his methods or ways of thinking. One of the early dialogues†¦show more content†¦Euthyphro is supposed to provide a general definition that captures the very basic nature of what piety is. Euthyphro claims that he knows what it is to be pious, but every answer he offers is subjected to the full force of Socrates critical thinking. Socrates systematically refut es Euthyphros suggestion that what makes right actions right is that the gods love, or approve of them. First, there is the problem that since questions of right and wrong often create endless disputes, the gods are likely to disagree among themselves about moral matters just as often as we do, making some actions both right and wrong. Socrates lets Euthyphro off the hook on this one by agreeing with him, but only for purposes of continuing the discussion. More importantly, Socrates instigates a formal problem for Euthyphro from a deceivingly simple question, Is the pious loved by the gods because it is pious, or is it pious because it is loved by the gods? Neither choice can do the justice for which Euthyphro intends his definition of piety. If right actions are pious only because the gods love them, then moral rightness is completely optional, depending only on the impulses of the gods. But if the gods love right actions only because they are already right, then there must be some non-divine source of values, which we might come to know separately from theirShow MoreRelatedIn PlatoS Euthyphro, Socrates And Euthyphro Discuss The1734 Words   |  7 PagesIn Plato s Euthyphro, Socrates and Euthyphro discuss the nature of piety. Euthyphro first proposed that piety is that which the gods love. His proposal was quickly objected by Socrates though, since the gods often disputed amongst themselves and therefore what one loves can be what another hates. Euthyphro then revised his hypothesis to say that piety is that which the gods love unanimously and for the moment this was their conclusion. This definition however, that piety is what the gods love unanimouslyRead MoreThe Incompleteness of Platos Euthyphro Essay848 Words   |  4 PagesThe Incompleteness of Platos Euthyphro The Euthyphro, like other Platonic dialogues, seeks to uncover the definition of a virtue. In its case, the virtue is piety. In the end, the dialogue fails to uncover this definition, rendering an impression of incompleteness. On account of the dialogues dual effect -- the presentation of Socrates spirit as well as the Greeks inability to define piety -- explanations for its incompleteness often place too much emphasis on Socrates and, as a resultRead MoreDifferent Definitions of the Word Pious Depicted in Platos Socratic Dialog Euthyphro1249 Words   |  5 PagesPlatos Socratic dialog Euthyphro is in many ways archetypal of the sort of philosophy that Socrates is thought to have been interested in. In it (as in most classic Socratic dialogs), Socrates seeks out a person who claims to have a certain sort of knowledge. He then proceeds to show that these experts do not possess this knowledge by getting them to contradict themselves. With this in mind, I will discuss the three defini tions of the word pious that the character Euthyphro gives to SocratesRead MorePlato’s Euthyphro829 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ Plato’s Euthyphro Pamela Gaither PHI208: Ethics and Moral Reasoning Instructor: Constance Dolecki 10/14/13 In the Euthyphro, Socrates and Euthyphro discuss the concept of piety/holiness. This essay will not only test my ability to recognize and engage philosophical concepts and analysis, but also brings me into the dialogue as a participant, asking me to create my own definition of holiness. I explain how the concept of holiness emerges in the dialogue and why it takes a prominentRead MoreThe Definition of Piety in Platos Euthyphro1311 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿The Definition of Piety in Euthyphro Introduction Platos Euthyphro introduces the Socratic student both to the Socratic Method of inquiry and to, or at least towards, a definition of piety. Because the character of Euthyphro exits the dialogue before Socrates can arrive at a reasonable definition, an adequate understanding of piety is never given. However, what piety is not is certainly demonstrated. Euthyphro gives three definitions of piety that fail to mean much to Socrates, who refutesRead MoreAnalysis Of Plato s The Euthyphro 1723 Words   |  7 Pagesdisciple, Aristotle, Plato set the groundworks of Western philosophy and science amid dialogues such as Apology, Euthyphro, Republic and Laws. These dialogues provided some of the earliest handlings of political inquiries from a philosophical viewpoint. In the Euthyphro, Plato composes a dialogue that transpires in 399 BC, weeks before the hearing of Socrates, for which Socrates and Euthyphro try to determine an absolute meaning for the word â€Å"piety† also known as ho liness. To enable the comprehensionRead MoreThe Doctrine Of The Divine Command Theory1237 Words   |  5 Pagesagainst this theory is known as the Euthyphro Dilemma, derived from Plato’s account of Socrates questioning Euthyphro about the determinant of piety, albeit in relation to the polytheistic Greek system of belief. In this account, Socrates asks if â€Å"†¦the gods love actions because they are pious, or are actions pious because the gods love them?† This inquiry can also obviously be applied to the modern, monotheistic interpretation of the Divine Command Theory. As Euthyphro struggles to answer the questionRead MoreEuthyphro, by Plato886 Words   |  4 Pagesleaves a significant impact on humanity. Most of all, it is methodologies of attaining this knowledge that makes him so mesmerizing. This methodology is referred to as Socratic irony, in literature. In any case, I will introduce the argument that Platos Euthyphro is extremely indicative of this type of methodology, for the reason being that: Socratess portrays a sense of intellectual humility. I will begin by, imposing the distinction between Socratic irony, and the one that is more familiar. AsRead MoreEuthyphro And Plato Essay1594 Words   |  7 Pages In two distinct works of Plato, he attempts to determine the good and explaining it so others can also understand it the way he does. The Euthyphro aims at determining the definition of piety through a dialogue between Euthyphro and Socrates in order to come to a clear understanding through a thought out conversation. Similarly in the Republic, Plato utilizes three specific analogies to best convey the likeness, the levels, and the journey to reaching the highest good. The sun analogy, the dividedRead MorePlato : The Trial And Death Of Socrates1107 Words   |  5 PagesPlato: The Trial and Death of Socrates Euthyphro In Platos Euthyphro, Euthyphro is surprised to see Socrates at the courthouse because he doesnt seem like the kind of person that should be anywhere around a courthouse. They both discuss why Socrates is there in which he tells Euthyphro that he is being indicted by Meletus for corrupting the youth because he does not believe in the old gods of Athens and makes up new gods. Socrates goes on by telling Euthyphro his issue is not if he is being laughed