Euthyphro

In Plato's "Euthyphro" he discusses the idea of what makes something that is good, good and what makes something that is bad, bad. Although one might say that what god thinks is right or that he will approve of is good, but it raises many questions because of the fact that there are many different religions and beliefs. Euthyphro and Socrates endure this great discussion at the hall of King Archon and Socrates brings a whole new level of thinking and expands the human mind to think about the obvious and not about what the conformist might think about.

When Euthyphro first meets up with Socrates at the hall of King Archon, he asks why Socrates is at the hall of King Archon. Socrates is considered one of the wisest men in all of Athens and for Euthyphro to see him about to stand trial, he is shocked. Socrates explains that a young man by the name of Meletus is prosecuting him for, "For he, he says, knows how the young are corrupted, and who are their corrupters (pg. 18)," says Socrates to Euthyphro. Euthyphro says that he understands but it is absurd. The conversation goes on and Euthyphro tells Socrates that he is sure everything will work out. Socrates then asks why Euthyphro is appearing before the courts. He says that he is prosecuting his father for murder. Socrates thinks this is crazy talk and doesn't understand why someone would prosecute their own father no matter what the cause. Euthyphro tells him how his father would do the same thing and that to the gods this act is considered pious (good). He says that he fully understands the definition of what is pious and what is impious. Socrates then says that he wants to become Euthyphro's pupil and that he should tell him what makes something good, what is the definition of good? Euthyphro agrees to teach him what makes something good. He first says to Socrates that piety is prosecuting someone for a wrongdoing no matter who they are and that impiety is no prosecuting them. Socrates then asks Euthyphro what he has done wrong. Euthyphro does not know and then explains that what pleases the gods is pious and vice versa for impiety. Socrates voids this theory by stating that the gods are always arguing and having wars amongst each other. So how can you determine what the gods think is pious if they argue and fight with each other constantly? He then raises the question, "do the gods love piety because it is pious, or is it pious because the gods love it (pg. 24)." In conclusion he says that Euthyphro doesn't know what the definition of piety is because loving something because it is pious and something is pious because you love it are totally different concepts. After they discuss this they part there ways and never really find the definition of what is pious and what is impious.

Knowing the definition of the good is something that can never really be determined. When you think about it, the good or the pious is different for everyone. So how can one person or one idea really determine what is good and what isn't. The concept of good is important because without that concept there would be total chaos within our society. If it were ok to kick a baby in the face then our society wouldn't function because that would be only one of the many problems we would have. The idea of something being good is beneficial because it keeps people in line and able to work together. It is similar