The Panpsycast Philosophy Podcast Episode 70, Plato's Euthyphro: Socrates Accused (Part I - The Dialogue)
Dec 1, 2019
Socrates is on trial, and the banter begins with reflections on his life and methods. The hosts dissect Plato's use of rhetoric while questioning the noble lie. The idea of piety takes center stage as Socrates engages Euthyphro, revealing the complexities of divine approval versus morality. They tackle the famous Euthyphro dilemma: Do gods dictate what is holy, or do they recognize it? As Euthyphro struggles to define piety, the dialogue hilariously ends with his retreat. Expect a playful twist with the Mystery Philosopher game before wrapping up!
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Episode notes
Use Rhetoric To Reach Truth
- Use rhetoric to clarify and reach truth, not merely to persuade or impress.
- Distinguish destructive sophistry from dialectic that aims at genuine understanding.
Dating Affects Interpretation
- Scholars view earlier Plato dialogues as closer to the historical Socrates and later ones as more Platonic.
- This affects how we read Euthyphro, Apology and Crito as reflecting Socratic argument styles.
Dialogues Combine Story And Philosophy
- Plato's Socratic dialogues pair narrative and philosophical investigation to teach ideas through conversation.
- The Euthyphro reading introduces Socrates' method and frames moral questions via a courtroom scene.
