Euthyphro

Estevan Galarza

02/01/2007

During the course of reading Euthyphro, the idea of doing what is right became the overall goal for what Socrates was trying to argue. Though to one such as myself, I would easily define it as doing what is morally good according to a just law. However, after reading this dialogue, there would seem to be many loop-holes that could be argued against my understanding. The whole dialogue of this section concerns how a man named Euthyphro is supposed proceed against his father in civil court, and how Socrates see's this as morally wrong. How he asserts his disposition is through asking Euthyphro to give his reasoning behind his actions, and constantly disagreeing with him through more questions which lead into more universal idea's such as right and wrong, just and unjust. Though the dialogue ends with not so quite a clear ending concerning who is right, Socrates did have a much better understanding of why one should always do the right and just thing.

To begin, the charges brought against Euthyphro's father are very severe, but the facts say otherwise. When Euthyphro tells Socrates that he is going to proceed against his father on charges of murder, Socrates becomes shocked because of the fact that he is going through with it (Plato, 3). When asked to go into detail on the charges, Euthyphro explains that the man who is dead was a poor dependent of his family that worked as a field laborer (3). One day, this laborer who was under the influence of alcohol, got into a fight with one of Euthypho's servants, and killed him (3). As a result, Euthyphro's father tied up the laborer's hands and feet and then threw him into a ditch, awaiting a diviner (law enforcer) that he sent for in order to find out what to do with the man (3). But because of this laborer being a murderer, he was not cared for, and being under the impression that he was a murderer, even if he did die, they thought it would be no great harm to him and his family (3). However, the laborer did die, and now Euthyphro's father was being charged for the death of this man (3). Now based on these facts alone, and given the time period that this occurred, this would seem not so serious based on these facts. One thing to take into account is that Euthyphro's family was that of high nobility, and the person who died was a lowly field worker. The father did the right thing to call for assistance in the matter, and though the servant died, the court would most likely weigh his death as the punishment for his actions. What Euthyphro should have been taking into account was the fact that he would now have bad relations with his family for prosecuting his own father.

After telling of the charges brought on his father, he then begins to explain in some detail as to why he chooses to proceed with the trial. As he tells of his family saying that he should overlook the matter, for that a good son would not go against his father, Euthyphro tells of how ignorant they are to the opinions of the gods concerning piety and impiety (Plato, 4). In response to this, Socrates spares no time in asking for an explanation of what these opinions of the gods actually are (4). At first, Euthyphro gives a basic definition of the terms, in which piety is basically what he is doing, meaning prosecuting anyone who is convicted of a crime, and impiety as not prosecuting those who have done a crime (4-5). Before he finishes to let Socrates speak, he then gives evidence for his beliefs based on the actions of the gods (5). He tells of how Zeus, being the best and most righteous of the gods, bound his own father (Cronos) because he had eaten his own sons(5). Socrates praises Euthyphro for this definition, and though he offers more story's of the gods, Socrates takes his definition, but restates his question concerning that he wishes to know basic idea of piety and impiety, not some examples as Euthyphro was telling (5-6). From what Euthyphro has said so far, piety would be taking a just action against those that have done wrong. But for Socrates, nothing is ever good enough unless he can use it in his own understanding of the way things work.

In response to Socrates wishes, Euthyphro changes his definition to better please Socrates. He now tells that piety is that which is dear to the gods, and impiety that which is not dear (6). Socrates then praises Euthyphro for this new definition, but still is not satisfied, and so begins to further question this definition until he can turn it into one that he can use in his own practice (6). He begins with telling of how people can have differences of opinions, and how these differences can lead into feelings of hatred, in which Euthyphro agrees (6). Socrates then go's into how the gods themselves can also have there own differences of opinions, which can also lead into unrest amongst them, which they also agree upon (6). He then leads up to his main objection of this definition by means of stating that even though men and gods love that which they think is noble and good, and hate that which is opposite to those things, not everyone thinks this way about all things (Plato, 7). This being in the nature of things that are considered to be good by a group of people, can be hated by others, and this would also apply to the gods, for not everyone thinks the same. Socrates then uses a good example concerning the gods to better prove his reasons. He states that even though Euthyphro's decision to proceed against his own father may seem agreeable to Zeus, but not to Cronos or Uranus, and that there may be other gods who have these differences of opinions (7). Concerning Socrates views, he would be in the right for saying this because everyone does in fact have there own differences of opinions. One classic example would be how a man in the army kills the enemy, and is praised for it since this is considered a good thing, yet one who is not a supporter of war might see this as an inhumane crime. Killing in itself is morally wrong, and most people would agree to this, yet since at the time this man was in the army, he may think it is wrong, yet it has to be done since it is what is required when you are at war.

In response to Socrates accusations, Euthyphro states other reasons to support his defense. He starts off by saying that concerning punishment for one who has committed murder, there would be no difference of opinion among the gods about that (Plato, 7). In response, Socrates tells that regarding men, there are sometimes when a person may argue for a murderer to be let off (8). He tells of when someone has done wrong, he will not admit his guilt, but when it comes to the idea of doing wrong, they would they that