Introduction to Philosophy
Lecture 2 - Plato's Euthyphro
September 16, 2006
Key Points to Keep in Mind:
- Note the form of the dialogue - Give and take in talk supported Socrates.
- Note the types of questions Socrates asks: both those for clarification and those to suggest an alternative answer
Questions to think about:
- What is the dialogue really about?
- What sort of person is Socrates?
- What sort of person is Euthyphro?
- What really happens in the dialogue? What seems to happen?
- What would Socrates count as knowing something?
- What would Euthyphro count as knowing something?
- Socrates claims to know nothing, Euthyphro claims to know something, are either of them right?
- Is the kind of knowledge Socrates was looking for possible?
Platonic Dialogues
- Most of Plato's works use the dialogue form. This form is often easier to follow than the standard philosophical texts
- Historically not a lot is known about Plato. He was born in 427 BC to a rich family, but whose family fell from political favour in Athens
- Plato does not mention himself in many of his dialogues (Where was Plato.....?)
- Plato was a pupil of Socrates and to honour his teacher he wrote his dialogues with Socrates as the main character
The Euthyphro
- This is a good example of how Plato does philosophy
- What are the general characteristics of this dialogue as they appear on the surface?
- Two people meet by chance
- They get into a discussion about piety
- They come to an impass
- And they go their own ways without resolving the issue
- If you dig down a lot more is really happening
- Socrates is always trying to find the truth from other people, this probably influenced how Plato wrote his philosophy
A Detailed Look at the Dialogue
1. Part One
- The dialgoue takes place on a porch or stairway in front of the Palace in Athens
- Socrates is there to answer to Miletus' charge that he corrupts the youth and worships gods other than the state gods
- The two protagonists meet and Euthyphro asks why Socrates is there
- Socrates explains the situation and claims Miletus is wise, since he knows for certain that Socrates is corrupting the youth
- Socrates claims he is not wise. (Socratic irony here, Socrates is wise and Miletus is not wise)
- Euthyphro probably was influential since he is familiar with the Assembly and the courts in Athens
- Euthyphro is there to prosecute his father for murder, since he is very knowledgable about piety and impiety
- Socrates responds that Euthyphro must be very wise to be able to take such an action (more irony at work)
- Socrates then proceeds to ask Euthyphro why he holds his views, since Euthypho claims knoweldge about piety
- Socrates goal is not to look at Euthyphro's assertion, but to examine the arguments, assumptions and presuppositions behind Euthyphro's view, those are what are really important to look at
- This is a great example of philosophy at work, bringing fundamental assumptions to the surface so that they may be examined
2. Part Two
- Socrates first asks Euthyphro if there is the possibility if he is wrong
- Then he asks Euthyphro for a clear definition of piety, you cannot understand anything else if you do not understand the topic at hand. Thus you should start by clearly defining the issues at hand
- Euthyphro gives an unclear definition in response and confuses the issue by introducing stories of Greek gods
- But Socrates wants a definition of piety that includes all pious acts, so the first attempt by Euthyphro was a complete failure
- "What is the characteristic that makes all pious acts pious?"
- Euthyphro gives another flawed definition
- Socrates replies by saying there are differences amongth the Greek gods in what acts are pious
- Euthyphro finally admits there are differences among the gods in piety, some are pious and some are not
- "Is a pious act loved by the gods because it is pious, or is it pious because it is loved by the gods?" - Socrates
- Do the essential attributes of piety have anything to do with the gods
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