Comparing Socrates And Euthyphro's Trial

There seems to be a hypocritical problem with Socrates’ defense to the Athenian Court during his trial. He claims to the Athenian Court that he was on a mission from the Oracle of Delphi and Apollo. The problem that came to be with his defense was, he recently criticized Euthyphro for claiming that being part of his father’s execution was the will of the gods. There is a seeming hypocrisy for Socrates to claim divine motivation in his defense but say it is not plausible when Euthyphro uses divine inspiration in his defense. Socrates acted from the proven wisdom of the gods, while Euthyphro from his pride. However, a deeper look into their defenses demonstrates that there is a clear and decisive difference between Socrates’ reasoning and Euthyphro’s. …show more content…
Euthyphro is putting his father on trial for the murder of one of his servants. The servant died by exposure to the elements, in a ditch after he murdered a family slave earlier. The fact that Euthyphro would put his own father on trial for a severe crime as manslaughter astonish Socrates. Socrates questions Euthyphro about his strange decision to prosecute his own father, which additionally was one of the Greek’s worst offense in being a part of the death of one’s own father. Socrates states, “You have no fear of having acted impiously in bringing your father to trial?” and if Euthyphro believes his impious actions will insult the gods (4E). Euthyphro believes his advanced wisdom on the meaning piety translates to know what the gods mean by the word too. Socrates needs him to explain the word to demonstrate his mastery of it. Euthyphro attempts to deliver a definition of piety. However, Socrates wants the essence of the word in order to demonstrate true mastery. Euthyphro cannot give a definition that delivers a mastery of the word without contradicting himself. Socrates /concluded that Euthyphro could not possibly use the gods as an excuse for his actions because he cannot define what piety