Euthyphro Critical Analysis

Plato’s Euthyphro is a profound conversation between Socrates and Euthyphro that takes place on The Porch of the King Archon, a Greek court. The self-proclaimed pious Euthyphro is prosecuting his father for killing a field laborer, who murdered a domestic servant. It is important to note that is was through neglect while awaiting a decision on the laborer’s punishment for murder. Ironically, Socrates is being prosecuted for corrupting youth by challenging their views guiding them to think more critically and not be blind followers. During the conversation Socrates asserts that a wise man is no trouble to the Athenians until he imparts his wisdom to others. This comment really speaks to the premise of why he is there; Athenians are threatened …show more content…
As it turns out Euthyphro was in fact a student of Socrates in this book and not the reverse. Socrates was able to show that he was a master of scrutinizing beliefs and contesting inconsistencies in answers. There is relevance in this chronicle today when our world is divided by different viewpoints of good and bad and at times it feels that no one is thinking clearly. Our own president said there is good on both sides of a conflict between white supremacists and those protesting their racist dogma. When the “other”, unlike us in class, sexuality, ethnicity or color is demonized in mainstream media as bad, less-than or illegal, we need to question the media, rules and laws. Conflicts abound worldwide and using tools of ethics and philosophy can help us out. Knowledge is a mighty thing, combined with action even more so. We must continually seek truth, learn the facts, and challenge what we have been taught, grapple with definitions of evil and good using our filters as well as common sense and the Golden Rule. This story clearly points out the value in dissecting our “truths” and being a seeker of