Euthyphro And Socrates Definition Of Piety

When set to go on trial, it is important for one to prepare themselves appropriately. In Plato’s, Euthyphro, Socrates is seen discussing with Euthyphro attempting to formulate the best definition for piety. This is done so Socrates can prevent his trial before it even begins. While a concrete definition was never reached, they do come close, the best one being “If a person knows how to do and say the things that are pleasing to the gods in prayer and sacrifice -those are the ones that are pious. And actions like them preserve both the private welfare of households and the common welfare of the city...the opposite of pleasing are unholy, and they, of course, overturn and destroy everything”.[ 61] By using Socrates objections of what gods love,

To start it should be mentioned that this definition, as well as the others discussed, do not explain what piety is but more so its place in their society, however, the definition mentioned above provides a working application making piety easier to understand and pious actions easily recognizable. The identification aspect was an objection Socrates had to the other definitions. When Euthyphro stated that piety is what is loved by the gods and what is impious is hated by them, Socrates argued that gods fight just as humans do.[ 56] They fight about war, ideals and actions, these arguments cause hatred and tensions just as they do in humans. Since hatred and love are argued, then the opinions have to differ from god to god. This issue does not surface in the definition presented as the best. The definition is not based on the gods’ affections, but more on the human’s devotion and actions towards them. After the human follows through with the actions it is easily identified as pious through what Euthyphro claims to be a “good” or positive outcome. It allows for the shift in gods affections but removes the unsteady foundation based on said affections and instead stabilizes the foundation on the result of the individual’s devotion and prayers. The steady foundation is shown in this definition and not the other shows that it is the

While one’s self-interest may a line with what pleases the gods, it is not done because it is their self-interest but because it is morally right. At the same time, since it is done because of sacrifice and prayer it may also not fall within one’s self-interest. The outcome of the prayers and sacrifices, when done properly, is supposed to result in good for both private and common welfare, this is how one knows if something is pious. It is beneficial for an individual to aid themselves and their community with the center shifted from their own ideas and to that of the gods it can result in some things they may not want to do. For example, it would be in Euthyphro’s best interest to not persecute his father. The community would not talk about him negatively and he would not have to deal with an angry father is he lost the case. However, it would be detrimental to the community to let a murderer go free and he would also be living with a murderer. It may be against his best interest but it would be pleasing to the gods and morally the right decision to prosecute. This proves that their self-interest is to be ignored in the face of behaving