October 12 2015
Euthyphro Essay
In the story of Euthyphro, Euthyphro meet Socrates outside the court of Athens. Socrates is there for a charge of corrupting the young by Meletus. Socrates asks Euthyphro why he is at the court of Athens. Euthyphro tells him that he is there to prosecute his father for killing a murder by accident. This happens when one of his workers gets in a argument with one of his slaves while drunk and kills him. His father ties the murder up and throws him into a ditch. He sends a messenger to Athens to get the authorities. This takes awhile because people traveled by foot. Euthyphro father forgets about the murder and he dies from the cold and hunger. Euthyphro sides with the murder and says that his father …show more content…
He believes this because he is willing to take his own father to trial. He also believes he might be able help him win his case over Meletus. Socrates begins to think that Euthyphro must know what holy is. He asks him to teach him the difference between holy and unholy. Euthyphro gives Socrates many definitions of holiness to Socrates. Euthyphro says that holiness is prosecuting religious offenders. This does not satisfy Socrates because there can be many offenses. Socrates is looking for a more direct answer that applies to most things. Euthyphro then gives him his second answer. He says that holiness is something that is dead to the Gods and unholy is something that is not dear to them. This answer is more complete for Socrates than the first one. Socrates then begins to question it because what is dead to some Gods is not dear to all Gods. This makes this question now incomplete for Socrates so he becomes dissatisfied. Socrates decides to approach the question differently. He asks Euthyphro if people who are pious are also just. Euthyphro says yes but recognizes that not all people are pious. Basically Euthyphro just contradicted himself. Socrates then asks