Week Three Euthyphro Plato What is the definition of pity? What is the definition of holiness? All individuals have their own way of thinking and views. What one may think of holy and pity another may not. What will be discussed in this paper is the concept of holiness emerges in the dialogue and why it takes a prominent position in the conversation between Socrates and Euthyphro, the three definitions that Euthyphro uses in his response to Socrates, Formulate your own argument as to what you think Socrates’s goal is in this dialogue. And finally a definition of my own of piety/ and holiness. There are several times that holiness has emerged throughout the dialogue. In the dialogue Socrates and Euthyphro are speaking of Euthyphro father being charged with murder than they began to speak of holiness and the knowledge of religion. Socrates states in the dialogue “Euthyphro! And is your knowledge of religion and of things pious and impious so very exact, that, supposing the circumstances to be as you state them, you are not afraid lest you too may be doing an impious thing in bringing an action against your father”( Socrates, 2010)? Holiness takes prominent position in the conversation between the Socrates and Euthyphro because Euthyphro wants to get his father in trouble for the murder and the conversation about holiness arises. The main problem is what are holy and the definition. No matter what one may believe in, one should still have faith, believe and follow the GODs any ways. However, one must really analyze what is to be holy in order to truly believe and follow the GODS. In addition, one definition that the Euthyphro uses in his response to Socrates uses in his response to Socrates "What I'm doing is pious.", to wit, prosecuting a murderer”, although it is not proven that his father being accused of murder has not yet been proven. So Socrates tells him "Euthyphro: Piety, then, is that which is dear to the gods, and impiety is that which is not dear to them" (Socrates, 2010). Euthyphro already admitted to the Socrates that gods that are different and will have arguments with one another. The Socrates has been a little skeptical at a very young age. “SOCRATES: "The point which I should first wish to understand is whether the pious or holy is beloved by the gods because it is holy, or holy because it is beloved of the gods”(Socrates, 2010). While being in love or having love for another does not define what holiness is nor does it explain love. Socrates states “Thus you appear to me, Euthyphro, when I ask you what is the essence of holiness, to offer an attribute only, and not the essence the attribute of being loved by all the gods” (Socrates,2010). The Socrates will explain try and explain what the differences between piety and justice; however Euthyphro does not understand and does not want to Quarrel what dear and love mean to the GODS. “The next definition, 'Piety is that which is loved of the gods,' is ship wrecked on are fined distinction between the state and the act, corresponding respectively to the adjective (philon) and the participle (philoumenon),or rather perhaps to the participle and the verb (philoumenon and phileitai). The act is prior to the state (as in Aristotle the energeia precedes the dunamis); and the state of being loved is preceded by the act of being loved. But piety or holiness is preceded by the act of being pious, not by the act of being loved; and therefore piety and the state of being loved are different. Through such subtleties of dialectic Socrates is working his way into a deeper region of thought and feeling” (Socrates, 2010).

Moreover, there is not an argument here that can be provided. The Socrates would like to learn what the meaning of piety and impiety mean. Euthyphro would like to make his in his own trial because Meletus and friends are going to argue about if Euthyphro knows what the real meanings to "piety" or of "impiety" are because that is what he is being charged with and would like to know more about. In contrast, the definition of holiness can be one believing in something higher grader than you. Holiness is also a religion that individuals practice. The Socrates may respond to this being false because what they believe to be holy is by being in love or loving another. According to the dictionary holiness is “The quality or state of being holy —used as a title for various high religious dignitaries” (Merrian Webster). The definition of piety is religious beliefs and can be an obligation. According to the dictionary “the quality or state of being pious: as fidelity to natural obligations (as to parents) dutifulness in religion: devoutness an act inspired by piety” (Merrian, Webster). The Socrates would respond like this “But Socrates would like first of all to have a more satisfactory answer to the question, ‘What is piety?' 'Doing as I do, charging a father with murder,' may be a single instance of piety, but can hardly be regarded as a general definition”(Socrates, 2010).

In conclusion, what is holiness and pity mean to one? Well it really varies on the individual and what they perceive the true definition is because everyone has their own beliefs and definitions. Euthyphro and the Socrates have different views on this subject. Euthyphro would like to know the true meaning of Piety and impiety while the Socrates does not really know the true meaning.

References: Socrates, 2010 retrieved from Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation — All Rights Reserved Holiness - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holiness