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Euthyphro
Lisa White
PHI208: Ethics and Moral Reasoning
Instructor: Ian McDougall
May 27, 2013

Euthyphro
1- Explain how the concept of holiness emerges in the dialogue and why it takes a prominent position in the conversation between Socrates and Euthyphro. In the Euthyphro, the concept of holiness emerges as Socrates and Euthypho are discussing how Euthypho’s father is accused of murder. They start off my discussing if the murder was just or not. If the murder was just then Euthypho has a duty to let the matter be. If the murder was unjust then action should be taken against him. Euthypho then states that “A son is impious who prosecutes a father. 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.
2- Present the three definitions that Euthyphro uses in his response to Socrates, and then explain how Socrates refutes each of Euthyphro’s definitions.
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 not dear to them. Socrates is pleased by this general definition and proceeds to first point out that the gods often quarrel, then proceeds to point out that quarrels do not arise over questions of fact, since agreements can be reached through calculation or investigation, but over questions of value, such as what is just and what is good. He states that any action may be called into question whether or not they are agreeable to the gods. Basically that which is holy is agreeable to the gods, and that they often disagree as to what is just.
The third definition that he gives is what the gods love is pious and holy, and the opposite which they hate is impious. “What all the gods hate is impious, and what they love pious or holy; and what some of them love and others hate is both or neither.” (Plato, ND) Basically stating that what is holy is approved of by the gods. Socrates refutes this by stating that a deed which is in the state of being approved by the gods is because the gods have decided to approve it. Meaning that by the act of approval and if it is divinely approved it is the state of the deed being approved by the gods.
3- Formulate your own argument as to what you think Socrates’s goal is in this dialogue. How do you know that is his goal? What features of the dialogue align with your interpretation of his goal?
The goal that Socrates has in this dialogue is to expose Euthyphro’s great ignorance in his knowledge of things. We can see that this is his goal by the last part of the dialogue, where Euthyphro’s explanations and definitions are still unclear and his arguments go around in circles. Euthyphro’s flustered tone and sudden departure from Socrates are signs that he caught on to what Socrates was doing. Rather than giving a new definition of piety and impiety, Euthyphro uses the same definition reworded differently. He then ends the dialogue abruptly as he realizes that Socrates wasn’t interested or in awe of his knowledge, rather he more interested in exposing his lack of knowledge and his ignorance. The features of the dialogue that align with my interpretation of Socrates goal can be seen throughout the dialogue, however more so towards the end of the dialogue where you can sense the tone between Socrates and Euthyphro becomes more frustrated. The goal can also be seen when Socrates states “And when you say this, can you wonder at your words not standing firm, but walking away? …… for the argument, as you will perceive, comes round to the same point.” (Plato, ND)
4- Provide your own definition of piety/holiness and then create a Socratic response/critique of your definition.
My definition of piety/holiness is a reverence and devotion to God, parents and family. It can also mean an individual’s devout acts, thoughts or how an individual will state a statement. Socrates response or critique would say that if reverence and devotion to God, parents and family are piety then so would be an individual’s acts, thoughts and speech.
4a- After you present your definition, take on the role of Socrates and respond to your own definition as you think he would.
If a moral concept ‘M’ can be such that piety/holiness is such that there can be an authority of judgment whether or not something will fall under the ‘M’, then the judgment can be resolute and realistic. This then is grounds for ‘M’, which cannot be defined within that authority’s judgment. Therefore there are no single features where all holy deeds, whether they are acts, thoughts or speech which have nothing common with each other.
Lisa White

Reference:
Plato, ND, Euthyphro
Retrieved from: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1642/1642-h/1642-h.htm

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