The individual experience can cause great differences in human thought, as one’s self-awareness causes a specialized understanding of any given concept or form. Plato’s philosophy focuses largely on self-identity and awareness, which is likely derived from his brilliant teacher Socrates, who focused a great deal of his work on these very principles. Socrates highlights the individual experience as he explores piety and its many definitions in regard to his own self. In Plato’s dialogue Euthyphro, Socrates speaks with a sophist by the title name, searching for a universal definition of piety as a concept, concluding that such a form cannot be singularly defined. The Apology recounts Socrates’ trial, showing his defense statement, where he uses
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Throughout their discussion, the two men explore four separate attempts at a singular definition for piety, firstly Euthyphro’s own actions, what is pleasing to the gods, what is loved by the gods, and justice as it concerns to the gods. Finally the men come to a fifth and final definition, offering that actions considered pious are, “pleasing to the gods at prayer and sacrifice.” (Euthyphro, 14b). Using the Socratic method, Socrates quickly identifies the fault in this explanation, as Euthyphro defines these services as “all things most dear to [the gods].” (Euthyphro, 15b). Earlier in the dialogue, Socrates had dismantled this very definition, stating that several of the Athenian gods were often pleased by opposing things, thus concluding that piety would differ for each god. Socrates has entered this specific dialogue with the intention of finding a universal explanation for piety, not several. This is due to Socrates’ mission to discover an ultimate truth about a particular concept, seen in several of his dialogues. Despite their greatest efforts, the two men find themselves coming full circle, without a comprehensive, singular conclusion reached. Frustrated with Socrates, Euthyphro decides to end the discussion, and Socrates goes forth to his trial without a sufficient definition of
Throughout their discussion, the two men explore four separate attempts at a singular definition for piety, firstly Euthyphro’s own actions, what is pleasing to the gods, what is loved by the gods, and justice as it concerns to the gods. Finally the men come to a fifth and final definition, offering that actions considered pious are, “pleasing to the gods at prayer and sacrifice.” (Euthyphro, 14b). Using the Socratic method, Socrates quickly identifies the fault in this explanation, as Euthyphro defines these services as “all things most dear to [the gods].” (Euthyphro, 15b). Earlier in the dialogue, Socrates had dismantled this very definition, stating that several of the Athenian gods were often pleased by opposing things, thus concluding that piety would differ for each god. Socrates has entered this specific dialogue with the intention of finding a universal explanation for piety, not several. This is due to Socrates’ mission to discover an ultimate truth about a particular concept, seen in several of his dialogues. Despite their greatest efforts, the two men find themselves coming full circle, without a comprehensive, singular conclusion reached. Frustrated with Socrates, Euthyphro decides to end the discussion, and Socrates goes forth to his trial without a sufficient definition of