The Role Of Politics In Euthyphro, By Socrates

Throughout the dialogues Socrates regards politics as a practice of self-reflection while depicting philosophy as a messiah set to save a complacent, imperfect, society not by providing answers to all questions but by questioning the answers themselves. Thereby, consistently examining the ambiguities presented in life’s illogical implications of authoritative opinion, the individual can improve their overall behavior by privately perfecting the subconscious thus, allowing philosophy to assume its role in saving the public practice of politics. In the Euthyphro, Euthyphro suggests that piety is “whatever all the gods love”, in which Socrates follows up with this question: “Is the pious loved by the gods because it is pious or is it pious because

In his defense, Socrates recalls a time when he denied an order from the Thirty to arrest Leon of Salamis stating that his only concern was “to commit no unjust or impious deed” (Plato 85) “never [conceding] to anyone contrary to the just”, government officials included. Socrates’ own moral examination and individual judgment helped decipher whether or not to engage in political activity. After being convicted by the jury, Socrates states that “the unexamined life is not worth living” (Plato 92), suggesting that the individual that fails to analyze their own practices and morality forfeits their right to truth and is incapable of living a life worthwhile. After being sentenced to death Socrates foretells of the rise of philosophers, affirming that the best way to avoid reproach is “to equip oneself to be the best possible” (Plato 94) implying that philosophy will live on and the best way to cope is through self-reflective

By claiming that no citizen “should do injustice in return [for] whatever he suffer from others” (Plato 108) Socrates negates the notion of breaking the laws even if philosophy deems them unjust. Socrates further dignifies the laws personifying them asking, “didn’t we beget you?” (Plato 109) His acquiescence to the laws implies that its disobedience constitutes an act of civic impiety. In this dialogue, Socrates bridges the gap of philosophy and politics as imperfect union of morality and legality, implying that one should not upheld at the risk of denigrating the other. Though, philosophy is vital to political institutions its existence is dependent on laws being in