Euthyphro The beginning of the story was easy to understand. I could picture Euthyphro walking up and asking Socrates what he had been doing at the palace. He didnt seem to be too surprised to hear that Socrates was being impeached. Im not sure what I think about Euthyphro prosecuting his own father.
I suppose that for the sake of justice, it would be the right thing to do. To judge him on terms of piety, I would have no clue how to do that. I wasnt really sure exactly what piety was when I began reading the story. Quite honestly, I didnt receive an answer either. I found myself being pulled into the circles that Euthyphro was pulled into. It is somewhat humorous how Socrates goes about asking Euthyphro about the meaning of piety.
He actually seems a bit condescending in his questioning, but Euthyphro didnt seem to notice. His character seemed to be pleased in being thought of as an expert on the matter of piety (and impiety).
I dont believe that Socrates expected to receive a definite answer to his questions. The whole point seemed to be an attempt to make Euthyphro really think about his own definitions and his position in prosecuting his own father. Socrates somewhat lures Euthyphro into thinking they are coming from the same angle. It is amusing the way Socrates makes himself appear to be a student of Euthyphro.
Any reader should be able to tell after a short time who the wiser man is. In the very beginning of the questioning, I could actually follow along. I understood exactly what was being said. I could also see the entrapment that Socrates was heading toward. As an outsider, reading with the ability to back up and review, I found myself chuckling as Socrates brought Euthyphro around in circles.
The Essay on Euthyphro – Plato
On his way to his trial, Socrates runs into his friend Euthyphro, there to prosecute his own father for the murder of a slave. From this state of affairs, Socrates engages Euthyphro in a dialogue that begins with questions regarding piousness and ends up unsatisfactorily attempting to come to a true answer. In the course of this discussion, definitions of concept of holiness emerge, only to be ...
As I got further into the story, I als became lost and was forced to reread many different paragraphs. As Socrates pulled Euthyphro further into confusion, I also felt more confused. I do think I was able to sort out a few points, though. I understood the question raised concerning issues that were loved and hated by the gods. It was a good idea. In a polytheistic society, how could the people choose which issues to follow, if some were to be loved by certain gods and hated by others Euthyphro didnt actually answer that question well.
He reverted to his own trial against his father. I became totally lost in the whole discussion of carrying, becoming, and suffering. I tried to sort through that multiple times, but couldnt seem to grasp his point. Im not really sure Euthyphro ever understood that part either. I did understand the point made about holy, loved, and dear. Euthyphro thought he understood them too, but when Socrates brought them up in the end, they were right back at the beginning where they started.
Even though Socrates never got a definite answer from Euthyphro concerning piety and impiety, I believe he accomplished his goal. I truly dont think he ever expected to walk away with a sound interpretation of piety and impiety. Perhaps he already knew the correct meanings. The goal of the conversation could have simply been to confuse Euthyphro into confronting his own ideas and beliefs. I would have been frustrated in that situation. I have been in a class before when no one seemed to understand my questions, and the questions went unanswered..
