Attitude of the Socrates towards the gods in Euthyphro - Essay Example

Attitude of the Socrates towards the gods in Euthyphro The discussion of Plato commonly referred to as the Euthyphro is a dialogue that took place between Socrates and Euthyphro that touches on what holiness (piety) is. On the definition of the word piety, Euthyphros first answer is that piety is doing what I am doing now, to persecute the wrong-doers. "But I will not change the definition to say that what all the gods hate is unholy, and what they all love is holy and what some of them love and another hate is both or neither" (Biffle 14).

This paper seeks to analyze the attitude that Socrates has over the gods in Euthyphro. The discussion concerns the virtue that is usually considered as a manner of the living that helps to complete ones role either at the individual level or to God. It is of a specific interest as far as the fate of the Socrates is concerned even though he has been charged with impiety, and he is almost facing trial before the court to determine whether he is guilty or innocent. He is quite sure that most of the Athenian people has little understanding of the very nature of piety or impiety and thus forcing Socrates to ask Euthyphro a question about his understanding of the piety.

He has a good reason for doing this: he wants to justify if Euthyphro is really wise as he usually claims to be, and if he is not Socrates is very ready to expose the depth of his claim. Euthyphro has a good reputation amongst his people of being very wise, a soothsayer, and he is also known to be a diviner. On his role as a teacher, he instructs his people on both political and moral issues and even on the practical problems of the daily life. The two are involved (Socrates and Euthyphro) in matters that are of legal nature with Euthyphro being the plaintiff in the matter that is in the court awaiting trial.

To prove his wisdom, Euthyphro gives a definition of the word piety as what is dear to the gods. I have told you already, Socrates, that to learn all these things accurately will be very tiresome. Let me simply say that holiness is learning how to please the gods in word and deed, by prayer and sacrifice (18). Socrates is surprised and shocked when he learned that Euthyphro is bringing a charge against his blood father. However, he is impressed by the fact that Euthyphro is very ready to play his role on the issue despite the fact that it means taking action against his father.

Without much talk on the matter that is facing Euthyphros father, Socrates appear to be very anxious to make inquiries on matters concerning the nature of piety because he is also accused of crime of impiety by Meletus. The point that I want first to understand is whether the Holly is loved by the gods because it is a holly, or holy because it is loved by the gods (14). Socrates is not happy with the answer that Euthyphro is giving. Following his disappointment, he requests Euthyphro to briefly shade some light on his understanding on what gods in return gain from the services of humans like him.

Because Euthyphro would wish to say that gods need nothing, he is not in a position to articulate in any way that human being like him could help God. In this case, Socrates has a hint that we have no help from the gods even though they can sometimes help us. He argues that we should just try to be good and not have a lot of claims of having some special roles of service to the gods. Work Cited Biffle, Christopher. A Guided Tour of Five Works by Plato: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo (Death Scene), Allegory of the Cave. 3. London: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2001. .