Classical Greece Worksheet 16
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Philosophy
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Jan 9, 2024
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C
LASSICAL
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REECE
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ORKSHEET
16
Plato, “Euthyphro”
So far, we have seen Socrates in court providing his defense against the charges that he was
corrupting the youth and denying the gods of the city. Then we saw him in jail awaiting
execution. This dialogue takes place earlier in time, when he is about to meet with the court
before his official trial. In it, Socrates engages in a dialogue with Euthyphro, who is a respected
theologian and interpreter of religion. (Most of the Platonic dialogues are named after the person
Socrates is talking with.)
1.
Why is Euthyphro going to court? Who is he prosecuting and on what charge? [4a-5b]
He was
prosecuting his father for causing the death of a laborer who was involved in a family dispute.
This provides the opening for Socrates to enter into a philosophical dialogue on the nature of
moral virtues, which is Socrates’ favorite thing to do. Socrates is being brought up on charges
before a religious court and one of the charges against him is that he denies the gods, so he asks
Euthyphro to teach him the meaning of
piety
. Euthyphro will offer a series of definitions, with
each being criticized by Socrates.
2.
What is Euthyphro’s first definition? [5d-6a] What is Socrates’ objection? [6d-e]
His first
definition of piety was exactly what he was doing. Socrates objected by asking for a universal
definition as opposed to Euthyphro’s specific example.
3.
What is Euthyphro’s second definition? [7a] What is Socrates’ objection? [7b-9a]
Piety is
what is loved by the gods. Socrates objected by asking whether something is pious because it
is loved by the gods or if something is loved by the gods because it is pious.
4.
What is Euthyphro’s third definition? [9c] What is Socrates objection? (This is the most
famous part of the dialogue and is known as the “Euthyphro Problem” in the philosophy of
religion.) [10a-11a]
This definition was a variation of the second; piety is that which is loved
collectively by all the gods. Socrates responded by once again asked whether an action is
pious because the gods love it, or do the gods love it because it is pious. This would define
morality as arbitrary as opposed to logical.
5.
What is Euthyphro’s fourth definition? [12e] What is Socrates’ objection? [13a-d]
Euthyphro
defined piety as a form of service to the gods. Socrates asked if the gods would benefit from
this, and how.
6.
What is Euthyphro’s fifth definition? [14b] What is Socrates’ objection? [14c-15a]
His fifth
definition was giving what is due to the gods. Socrates again objected by putting in question
what benefit the gods would gain from these offerings. Do they receive them because they are
pious, or are they pious because they receive them?
At this point, Euthyphro offers his final definition, but it turns out to essentially be the same as
his third definition. They have gone in a loop. Socrates proposes that they start their inquiry over
again.
7.
How does the dialogue end? [15e-end]
It was inconclusive. Neither of them were able to
satisfyingly define piety, so they agreed to continue their inquires in the future.
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