Vongai Faith Nyikayaramba
PHIL 2033-201
02/13/2017
Professor Irven
Plato’s Euthyphro Plato’s Euthyphro is an avid discussion at King Archon’s court between Socrates and Euthyphro about the definition of piety. During their conversation they share their reasons for coming to court. Socrates was being charged for impiety by Meletus while Euthyphro had come to prosecute his father for unintentionally killing Euthyphro’s servant for drunkenly murdering one of Euthyphro’s slaves. Socrates flatters Euthyphro, suggesting that Euthyphro must be a great expert in religious matters if he is willing to prosecute his own father on such a questionable charge. Euthyphro concurs that he does indeed know all there is to be known about what is pious but he confesses that his family is angry with him for carrying out such a prosecution on behalf of a murderer. Socrates responds by urging Euthyphro to instruct him and to teach him what piety is, since Euthyphro's teaching might help Socrates in his trial against …show more content…
Socrates plan was to clear himself of Meletus and his indictment by pleading that he had been enlightened by Euthyphro, and had given up rash innovations and speculations, in which he indulged only through ignorance, and that from that moment onwards he would go on to lead a better life (Plato 16). The philosophical importance of Plato’s Euthyphro comes from his ability to challenge our own definition of piety. Plato does this by evoking our curiosity to find out the acceptable definition of piety. However, when the conversation between his characters ends we are left yearning for more as there is no actual definition agreed upon. As a result it is placed upon us to consider everything we read and what we already know in order to come to a justifiable conclusion of the definition of
PHIL 2033-201
02/13/2017
Professor Irven
Plato’s Euthyphro Plato’s Euthyphro is an avid discussion at King Archon’s court between Socrates and Euthyphro about the definition of piety. During their conversation they share their reasons for coming to court. Socrates was being charged for impiety by Meletus while Euthyphro had come to prosecute his father for unintentionally killing Euthyphro’s servant for drunkenly murdering one of Euthyphro’s slaves. Socrates flatters Euthyphro, suggesting that Euthyphro must be a great expert in religious matters if he is willing to prosecute his own father on such a questionable charge. Euthyphro concurs that he does indeed know all there is to be known about what is pious but he confesses that his family is angry with him for carrying out such a prosecution on behalf of a murderer. Socrates responds by urging Euthyphro to instruct him and to teach him what piety is, since Euthyphro's teaching might help Socrates in his trial against …show more content…
Socrates plan was to clear himself of Meletus and his indictment by pleading that he had been enlightened by Euthyphro, and had given up rash innovations and speculations, in which he indulged only through ignorance, and that from that moment onwards he would go on to lead a better life (Plato 16). The philosophical importance of Plato’s Euthyphro comes from his ability to challenge our own definition of piety. Plato does this by evoking our curiosity to find out the acceptable definition of piety. However, when the conversation between his characters ends we are left yearning for more as there is no actual definition agreed upon. As a result it is placed upon us to consider everything we read and what we already know in order to come to a justifiable conclusion of the definition of