What is Piety?
Introduction
Throughout Plato’s chapter Euthyphro, the main focus is around the definition of piety. This chapter consists of a dialog between Socrates and Euthyphro in which they are concerned with what piety is. They both go back and forth discussing the question while Socrates tries to get a full and worthy answer from Euthyphro. The definition of piety is of special interest to Socrates, as he had just been charged with impiety. He was charged for corrupting the youth of the city and for impiety against the pantheon of Athens. Socrates was called to court in the city of Athens to determine if he is guilty or innocent. At the court, he meets a professional priest named Euthyphro, who was there to prosecute his own father for …show more content…
16). He believes that in order to be pious to the gods, one must learn to do what is pleasing to the gods. Euthyphro implies that taking care of the gods is doing service for the gods; in the same sense that the horse breeder takes care of his horses and the cattle raiser cares for his cattle, these all are pious actions to please the gods (Plato, p. 16). While the two were discussing this third definition of piety, Euthyphro also tells Socrates that “If man knows how to say, and do what is pleasing to the gods at prayer and sacrifice, those are pious actions” (Plato, p. 18). This definition leads to the thought that prayer and sacrifice will get one what they want from the gods, if only it is thought to be pious by the …show more content…
Socrates asked Euthyphro, “Once more then, what do you say that piety and the pious are? Are they a knowledge of how to sacrifice and pray?” (Plato, p. 18). Euthyphro replied to him with “They are” (Plato, p. 18). Socrates then told Euthyphro, “piety would be a knowledge of how to give to, and beg from, the gods;” this is the fourth definition of piety (Plato, p. 18). He says that if this were true than piety is a trading skill amongst men and gods, they get “honor, reverence and gratitude” from us (Plato, p. 19). This fourth definition means that piety is gratifying the gods, which is similar to saying that piety is what is approved by the gods. The men are then led back to the second definition that Euthyphro gives, “Do you then not realize now that you are saying that what is dear to the gods is the pious?” (Plato, p. 19). Socrates tells Euthyphro that “either we were wrong when we agreed before, or, if we were right then, we are wrong now” (Plato, p. 20). Instead of seeking a better definition, Euthyphro left claiming he was in a hurry and it was time for him to
Introduction
Throughout Plato’s chapter Euthyphro, the main focus is around the definition of piety. This chapter consists of a dialog between Socrates and Euthyphro in which they are concerned with what piety is. They both go back and forth discussing the question while Socrates tries to get a full and worthy answer from Euthyphro. The definition of piety is of special interest to Socrates, as he had just been charged with impiety. He was charged for corrupting the youth of the city and for impiety against the pantheon of Athens. Socrates was called to court in the city of Athens to determine if he is guilty or innocent. At the court, he meets a professional priest named Euthyphro, who was there to prosecute his own father for …show more content…
16). He believes that in order to be pious to the gods, one must learn to do what is pleasing to the gods. Euthyphro implies that taking care of the gods is doing service for the gods; in the same sense that the horse breeder takes care of his horses and the cattle raiser cares for his cattle, these all are pious actions to please the gods (Plato, p. 16). While the two were discussing this third definition of piety, Euthyphro also tells Socrates that “If man knows how to say, and do what is pleasing to the gods at prayer and sacrifice, those are pious actions” (Plato, p. 18). This definition leads to the thought that prayer and sacrifice will get one what they want from the gods, if only it is thought to be pious by the …show more content…
Socrates asked Euthyphro, “Once more then, what do you say that piety and the pious are? Are they a knowledge of how to sacrifice and pray?” (Plato, p. 18). Euthyphro replied to him with “They are” (Plato, p. 18). Socrates then told Euthyphro, “piety would be a knowledge of how to give to, and beg from, the gods;” this is the fourth definition of piety (Plato, p. 18). He says that if this were true than piety is a trading skill amongst men and gods, they get “honor, reverence and gratitude” from us (Plato, p. 19). This fourth definition means that piety is gratifying the gods, which is similar to saying that piety is what is approved by the gods. The men are then led back to the second definition that Euthyphro gives, “Do you then not realize now that you are saying that what is dear to the gods is the pious?” (Plato, p. 19). Socrates tells Euthyphro that “either we were wrong when we agreed before, or, if we were right then, we are wrong now” (Plato, p. 20). Instead of seeking a better definition, Euthyphro left claiming he was in a hurry and it was time for him to