Socrates Euthyphro essays

Socrates' Euthyphro essays Throughout Euthyphro, Socrates explains many examples that represent how someone can have knowledge, or lack there of, pertaining to such things as piety, virtue, justice, and practical wisdom. The first step in explaining these theories is when he has a run-in with Euthyphro. Euthyphro declares that his action toward his father (sentencing for murder of a slave) is pious and the gods appreciate it. He states that piety is something that is loved by the gods. Socrates, on the other hand, does not understand this and begins to demonstrate how Euthyphro does not really know what he is saying. He explains that the gods are always at war and not agreeing completely on everything, therefor how can something be pious if not all the gods love it. But, there are some things that all gods agree upon such as masses, numbers, and sizes. But, do the gods really love these things? Are these things loved because they are pious or pious because they are loved? Socrates proclaims that piety does no t have one form. It would have to be the same at all times, and actions that are loved by the gods do not necessarily make them pious. He also declares that where there is piety, there is also justice, but where there is justice there is not always piety. Euthyphro then tries to state that caring for the gods, such as sacrifice and prayer, is pious, but again Socrates does not agree. Socrates asks who is benefited from giving to the gods. It may be pleasing to the gods, but how is it beneficial or loved by them so how can these actions be pious. In the beginning of Apology, Socrates explains that it is much easier to gain knowledge about scientific or religious conceptions than moral concepts. He declares to the audience that his friend, Chairephon, went to the oracle and asked if anyone was wiser than Socrates. The oracle simply replied no. Socrates could not understand this because he presumes that he truly does not have any ...