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Plato’s Euthyphro

Delve into the philosophical drama of Plato's Euthyphro, exploring moral concepts through Socratic inquiry and dialectic. Discover the essence of piety, justice, and the nature of definitions in this profound text.

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Plato’s Euthyphro

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  1. Plato’s Euthyphro PAR 101: Invitation to Philosophical Thinking Walter Thomas Schmid, Ph.D.Philosophy and Religion, UNCW

  2. Plato’s Euthyphro • Philosophical drama= set in Athens in 399 BC • Characters • Socrates, famous philosopher • Euthyphro, “Mr. Orthodox” • Background: • Greek polytheistic religion • Socrates accused of impiety by Anytus and Meletus • Euthyphro charging his father with ‘pollution’, religious crime

  3. Socratic Inquiry (Starts from a real situation) • Seeks definitionof a moral concept, e.g. What is X? (What is piety? justice?) • Examination of defn  refutation through self-contradiction(elenchus) • Progress more insightful definitions • Ends in perplexity(aporia), should realization by the interlocuter he doesn’t know, begin search for wisdom.

  4. Socratic Dialectic = test of self-knowledge Anyone one who has an intellectual affinity to Socrates and enters into conversation with him is liable to be drawn into an argument; and whatever subject he may start, he will be continually carried round and round by him, until at last he finds that he has to give an account both of his present and past life; and when he is once entangled, Socrates will not let him go until he has completely and thoroughly sifted him to determine if he knows what he is talking about –i.e. if he knows himself. LACHES 187

  5. What is a “definition”? Verbal Definition Real Definition Normative meaning—how all people ought to understand it One true meaning Applies to all true instances States essence Ideal of rational agreement • Dictionary meaning – how different people understand it • More than one meaning • May not apply to all instances • May not state essence • Disagreement is normal

  6. Definitions in Euthyphro: to hosion(the ‘truly religious’) is: 4. KNOWEDGE: Know how to pray and sacrifice(14c) 3. INTENTION/TRAIT 3b. Serving the gods, as servants to masters (13d) 3a. Caretaking of the gods (12e)  2. HOW VIEWED BY OTHERS 2b. What is loved by or dear to all the gods(9e)  2a. what is loved by or dear to the gods(7a) 1. SINGLE TYPE OF BEHAVIOR Prosecuting the wicked (5d)

  7. First Definitions #1:“Prosecute the Wicked” • Euthyphro’s justification – “textual proof” • Socrates’ response-- his view of the Greek gods • One concept—many types of P-actions #2a: “Loved by the Gods” • Socrates on “contested terms” • Polytheistic religion and conflict among the gods • Definition of any virtue must be a ‘guide to conduct’

  8. Definition 2b (#3) “What all the gods love” • Unity of the gods  one God, monotheism • Definition answers first two objections • But is it a good definition of what makes an action or person ‘pious’? Question: “Is it pious because all the gods love it, or do they love it because it is pious?” (10a) • Compare: Did she win the race because the judges said so, or ….? • P b/c gods love it = external relation; gods love it b/c p = internal to person or act

  9. Theological Voluntarism vs. Rationalism • “It cannot be that God wills it because it is right. For then what is right would be above God and God would not be all-powerful!” • “It cannot be right because God wills it: for then if He changed his mind, what is right today could be wrong tomorrow!”

  10. 3rd Definition – a and b (#4, 5) 3a: “Caretaking of the gods” (from Greek therapeia, ‘cult’ of ritual, honoring) • Socrates’ analogy to caretaking of animals, crops • Euthyphro’s answer and the problem of the Greek theology: how can they conflict, if they are perfect? 3b: “Seeking to serve the gods” (human servants to divine Lords) • Ancient model of pious servant to Divine Lord • Analogy to servant of master-artist, Socrates’ question: what good do they want us to bring about? And Euthyphro’s answer • Socrates uses in Apology

  11. Defn 4: know how to pray and sacrifice Euthyphro’s interpretation seems more like bartering – ‘making a deal’ with God/s Is there a deeper meaning – knowing what to pray for, what is truly good, and what to sacrifice, give back? But if we know what is truly worth seeking in life, and what to do, even at sacrifice to ourselves, do we need to be religious?

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