Classical Stuff You Should Know

212: Plato's Dialogue, "Euthyphro"

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Aug 30, 2022
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ANECDOTE

Euthyphro's Shocking Case

  • Euthyphro arrives to prosecute his own father for causing a servant's death, claiming piety as his motive.
  • Socrates is astonished because turning in one's parent was socially shocking in their culture.
INSIGHT

Divine Disagreement Problem

  • Euthyphro first defines piety as prosecuting wrongdoers, then revises to "what is dear to the gods."
  • This exposes the problem that gods disagree, so divine approval can't ground an absolute piety.
INSIGHT

The Euthyphro Dilemma

  • Socrates frames the core dilemma: are things loved by gods because they are holy or holy because gods love them?
  • This reveals a circularity that undermines defining piety solely by divine approval.
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