The Nature of Piety
The Euthyphro, like Plato’s other early dialogues, contains a failed attempt to successfully define a concept (such as justice or virtue) by way of a discussion between Socrates and another character. In this case, Euthyphro—a presumed local expert on all things righteous—discusses the nature of “piety” at length with Socrates on the steps of the Athenian magistrates court. Both men are at the courthouse to address impiety: Euthyphro is prosecuting his father for…
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Wisdom, Action, and Justification
In Plato’s Euthyphro, the title character Euthyphro explains that he is prosecuting his own father for murdering a slave that murdered another slave in a drunken range. Euthyphro’s father bound the murderous slave and left him in a ditch whilst waiting for official advice on what to do with the slave. In the meantime, the slave died from hunger, exposure, and his bonds. Euthyphro is pressing charges because he believes his father acted impiously…
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The Socratic Method
In Plato’s Euthyphro, Socrates attempts to elicit a definition for piety out of Euthyphro, whom he bumps into on the steps of the courthouse. This is not merely an exercise in intellect, for both men will be addressing charges of impiety in their respective cases. In characteristic form, the dialogue proceeds with Socrates posing as the student, who seeks to be educated by Euthyphro, a presumed expert on such matters. Of course, what…
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