Euthyphro reading - Plato - Trials of Socrates Flashcards
What kind of text is the whole dialogue?
Imaginary dialogue
What did Euthyphro give as the first definition of piousness?
He believed what was pious was “precisely what [he was] doing now: prosecuting those who commit an injustice, such as murder or temple robbery, or those who have done some such other wrong, regardless of whether they’re one’s father or one’s mother or anyone else whatever.” (5d 9-5e 1)
Based on Euthyphro’s definition of what’s pious, how does he then define impiety?
Still talking about the same people who commit an injustice, etc. He says that “not prosecuting them, on the other hand, is what’s impious” (5e 1-2)
According to Euthyphro, what is the general model one must follow to decide if something is pious or impious?
“What’s loved by the Gods is pious, and what’s not loved by the Gods is impious” (6e 11-12)
What is Euthyphro’s dilemma?
The reply of Socrates: That Gods decide what is pious and what is impious based on whether they love something/someone or hate something/someone.
Therefore based on Euthyphro’s agreement that Gods must disagree with each other as humans do on what is fair/unfair, just/unjust, lovable/despicable.
The final conclusion would be inconclusive on whether all the Gods would agree with Euthyphro denouncing his father for murder, as it has been summarised by both Socrates and Euthyphro himself that conflicts exist between the Gods on these matters.
So then what may be considered impious by Euthyphro (e.g. his father murdering someone) might be hated by some Gods as he hates it too, or it may in all eventuality also be loved by some Gods, as disagreement does exist between the Gods, as previously established.
Then what is unjust may be defended by some Gods, as they’ll claim that the actions are actually just, and therefore pious.
What is Euthyphro’s revised second proposal of the definition of what is pious and impious?
Aided by Socrates’ input, he states that “the pious is what ALL the gods love, and its opposite, what ALL the gods hate, is the impious” (9e 1-2)
What is the ‘Crucial Question’ (put so by us) that Socrates asks Euthyphro after some deliberation on the definition of what is pious and impious?
He asks Euthyphro: “Is the pious loved by the gods because it is pious? Or is it pious because it is loved by the gods?”
(10a)
What is one of the key points of this dilemma in the dialogue?
The existence of oversimplification in everyday life - causal claims
Why does Socrates find it so hard to accept Euthyphro’s definitions of impiety and piety?
Because he’s determined to find out the order of determination, and Euthyphro isn’t being clear enough for him
He’s oversimplifying it too much for Socrates
