Piety - the Trial and Death of Socrates

Themes, Ideas & Arguments

Piety

Piety is the central topic of discourse in Euthyphro. Socrates and Euthyphro spend most of this dialogue debating back and forth, attempting to define what might be common to all holy acts. Despite this unified focus of their conversation, however, the two men remain unable to formulate any clear, uncontroversial definition of piety. Euthyphro makes several attempts, defining piety as prosecution of civil offenders, as that which is dear to the gods, as that which all the gods approve of or love, and finally as a science of proper transactions with the gods through rituals, reverence, and sacrifice. Socrates, however, quickly dispels each of these formulations, showing that none of them suffice to provide an adequate definition of piety.

This inconclusiveness can be seen as a sort of foreshadowing on Plato's part. In terms of historical context, one of the major charges brought against SocratesÐ'--and against which he defends himself in the ApologyÐ'--is impiety. Plato, by presenting us with a detailed analysis of holiness and showing how difficult it is to reach a conclusion on the nature of holiness, in a certain sense vindicates his mentor. Plato shows that Socrates' alleged guilt for impiety might not be so obvious to determine. The culpability simply cannot be clear, as the very nature of the piety Socrates supposedly lacks is indeterminable.

Wisdom

Socrates expresses his famous portrait of wisdom fairly early in the Apology. Paradoxically, he believes the greatest human wisdom consists of one's perception of the utter insignificance of human knowledge. Socrates describes his gradual progression toward this conclusion, starting with a declaration by the Oracle at Delphi. The Oracle previously has proclaimed Socrates to be the wisest of all men. Upon hearing these words, Socrates sets out to discover the exact substance of his superior wisdom. He interviews various people, such as poets and craftsmen, in order to learn about his own expertise by listening to how other people know what they know. After perceiving these peoples' lack of true comprehension, Socrates concludes that his own wisdom must consist of an awareness of the general human lack of wisdom.

This position does not earn Socrates many friends. Quite the contrary, Socrates' conception of wisdom seems in fact to be largely responsible for his execution. The philosopher attributes the animosity of most of his longtime enemies, as well as their allegations against him, to his view. Socrates finds himself on trial and ultimately convicted because of his refusal to rescind his belief. He dies, then, both because of and in spite of his wisdom.

Virtue

Virtue plays a major role in Socrates' execution, though not due to his definition of it. As Socrates spells out in the Apology, true pursuers of virtue choose actions according entirely to the merit of each given decision. Considerations such as fame, fortune, andÐ'--most importantÐ'--death should not weigh into the decision of how to act in any situation. For this reason, Socrates refuses to cease teaching the principles for which he has received an indictment, as to do so would be to sacrifice the proper course of action for the safe one. Such a decision would not manifest virtue and as such should be forbidden. Furthermore, Socrates' commitment to virtue regardless of mortal adversityÐ'--resulting from considerations, like those in the Phaedo, of the soul's immortalityÐ'--keeps him from fleeing his execution when the opportunity arises. In this fashion, Socrates' virtue, like his conception of wisdom, helps guarantee his death.

Law

Plato's decision to personify the Laws of Athens emphasizes the significance Socrates wishes to place on the concept of law. Most humans would likely leap at the chance to escape an impending death sentence, as such a tendency simply emerges from a natural instinct for survival. Yet Socrates overcomes this frailty because of his commitment to law. As he describes, by choosing to live in Athens for so long, he has entered into an agreement. For seventy years Socrates has gladly accepted Athenian customs and society, and to flee now would be to reject this structure and to dishonor his contract with its law. One cannot adopt and abandon laws at one's convenience, as such behavior undermines the very nature of the lawsÐ'--that of a voluntary contract between the laws and the citizens living under them. For this reason, Socrates holds that a logical, virtuous commitment to the law requires complete submission to any of the law's proclamations. Such is the case even if the law mandates one face execution as a consequence of virtuous actions, as it does in Socrates' case.

Immortality

Much of the Phaedo focuses on the immortality of souls. It gradually becomes clear that Socrates' ideas about what happens after this life inform his beliefs regarding what should take place during this life. In order to demonstrate the soul's persistence beyond any particular body, Socrates employs arguments from Opposites, Recollections, and Affinity, as well as a prototypical account of Plato's Theory of Forms. Respectively, these formulations convey that life must occur from death if