Socrates’ Dialogue With Euthyphro

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Discussion
Conclusion
Work Cited

Introduction

In Socrates’ dialogue with Euthyphro about what piety is and what actions can be considered pious, no conclusive definition is reached. Although Euthyphro offers several definitions of piety, Socrates refutes them, pointing out the logical fallacies within them. This paper examines and attempts to propose an answer to one of the questions posed by Socrates to Euthyphro: “What is that excellent aim that the gods achieve, using us as their servants?”

Discussion

In the dialogue, Euthyphro argues that people help Gods achieve an excellent aim by being pious. However, he fails to identify the principal excellent aim of the Gods that is achieved through their servants’ ministrations (“Plato’s Euthyphro, 11e-14c”). Euthyphro evades this question in their conversation and leaves Socrates’s query unsatisfied. The question presupposes that Gods work toward a specific goal that humans help them achieve. It can be argued that the ultimate intention of the Gods’ work to which people actively contribute is the betterment of men’s souls. Therefore, any human action aimed at self-improvement of improvement and enlightenment of others can be considered pious as it serves the excellent aim of bettering the souls of humans. Thus, being good to the Gods lies in helping them achieve the chief goal. Socrates can use this answer in court to defend himself against the accusation of corrupting youth. As maintaining a false belief can be viewed as highly damaging to the human soul, Socrates’ attempts to show the youth the truth he believes in can be considered a pious action.

Conclusion

In summary, the most sensible answer to Socrates’ question is that the aim that the gods achieve using people as servants is the improvement of the human souls. Therefore, pious actions can be viewed as pious because they serve this utmost divine purpose. Furthermore, any action that seeks to enlighten people and better their understanding of the divine should be viewed as pious, allowing Socrates to use this reasoning for his defense.

Work Cited

“Plato’s Euthyphro, 11e-14c.” Critical Thinking, 2023, Presentation.

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Socrates’ Dialogue With Euthyphro

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