TEXT AND TRADITION - Essay Example

Text and tradition The dis between Euthyphro and Socrates is vehemently intended to determine whether a coherent understandingof the concepts of Gods, holiness and pity are possible. Euthyphro asserts that he is a possible follower of his father. Originally, Euthyphro proposes to explain piety as the act of assigning to the father the charge of the committed crime. On the other hand, Socrates, castoffs the choice and elucidates that this is not the definition of pity but rather its example. Then Euthyphro recommends that piety is the thing that is valued by deities.

Instantly, Socrates objects Euthypro’s assertion by pointing to existence of various Gods implying that there are diverse methods of pleasing them, which brings a logical incongruity since one action can be presented as indecorous and pious instantaneously; “But I will amend the definition so far as to say that what all the gods hate is impious, and what they love pious or holy; and what some of them love and others hate is both or neither”. Euthyphro further modifies this explanation by indicating that something is pious only if it causes solidly affirmative response in all existing Gods and improper if it causes a negative response in all the Gods.

In reply, Socrates articulates the "Euthyphro`s dilemma": an act that is pious in nature is dear to Gods, and the act is pious because it is dear to Gods. From the discussion, the duo concluded that the quality of a phenomenon or subject is primary to someone’s attitude or assessment of the object.It is accurate that piety is an ambition to justice, but it is not precise. Additionally, it is accurate that piety is an indulgence to Gods but it is also not meticulous. Finally, piety as forfeiting and praying is also correct but its exactness cannot be ascertained.

The aforementioned definitions of pity are accurate but not outrightly since the philosopher defines only some aspects of an idea rather than the whole idea. Consequently, the prominence is placed on an imperfect unity as the principle of generating parts. The accord is shaped with the help of these parts mishmash. Hence, when piety is rationally comprehended, it becomes ostensible that the perception is too comprehensive, and all the descriptions are correct but not adequate for the elucidation such a multifaceted concept.

One of the typical tragedies of primeval times that influenced the progress of the genre is “Oedipus Tyrannus." The chief subject of inexorability of destiny is probed and viewed by Sophocles from diverse viewpoints. The hero, Sophocles, endeavors to circumvent the awful prophecy of killing his father by escaping from home, but he is finally incapable of circumventing his predetermined destiny. A man is placed in an ambivalent and dependable position by the variability and unsteadiness of his destiny and his incapacity to understand God’s will.

A man desires one thing but the divinity directs him towards an explicitly contrary: Oedipus and Louis were aware of the destiny and anticipated to circumvent it at all costs but despite their struggle the very things they were afraid of happened and confirmed the entire notion of the incapability to elude destiny.