Plato, Euthyphro

First reading

1. Classification

Knowledge → Theoretical → Philosophical

2. What is the unity?

This book is an inquiry about the nature of piety / unpiety. 

3. Parts

1. Meeting at the porch
1. Euthyphro learns Socrates is being sued and why (By Meletus);
2. Socrates learns about Euthyphro's suit (Against his father);
3. Socrates says he'll have Euthyphro as master to learn from his wisdom to avoid undesired fate in the suit;
4. Socrates questions what is piety and unpiety;
2. Euthyphro formulates his first definition (1);
1. Socrates raises an objection (1.1);
3. Euthyphro formulates his second definition (2);
1. Socrates raises an objection (2.1);
2. Euthyphro replies objection (2) (arguing gods agree about punishing murderers);
3. Socrates replies again (says that all men agree likewise);
4. Socrates raises an objection (2.2);
4. Euthyphro formulates his third definition (3);
1. Socrates raises an objection (3.1);
5. Euthyphro recognizes the difficulty of defining;
6. Socrates explains what he means through an example;
7. Euthyphro on formulates his fourth definition (4);
1. Socrates raises an objection (4.1);
8. Euthyphro on formulates his fifth definition (5);
1. Socrates raises an objection (5.1);
9. Socrates asks again, finally
1. Euthyphro leaves inconclusive;

4. Problems

1. What is the nature of piety / unpiety?

Second reading

From: https://www.thoughtco.com/platos-euthyphro-2670341

Euthyphro's 5 Definitions

Socrates says, tongue-in-cheek as usual, that he's delighted to find someone who's an expert on piet—just what he needs in his present situation. So he asks Euthyphro to explain to him what piety is. Euthyphro tries to do this five times, and each time Socrates argues that the definition is inadequate.

1st Definition: Piety is what Euthyphro is doing now, namely prosecuting wrongdoers. Impiety is failing to do this.

Socrates' Objection: That's just an example of piety, not a general definition of the concept.

2nd Definition: Piety is what is loved by the gods ("dear to the gods" in some translations); impiety is what is hated by the gods.

Socrates' Objection: According to Euthyphro, the gods sometimes disagree among themselves about questions of justice. So some things are loved by some gods and hated by others. On this definition, these things will be both pious and impious, which makes no sense.

3rd Definition: Piety is what is loved by all the gods. Impiety is what all the gods hate.

Socrates' Objection: The argument Socrates uses to criticize this definition is the heart of the dialogue. His criticism is subtle but powerful. He poses this question: Do the gods love piety because it is pious, or is it pious because the gods love it?

To grasp the point of the question, consider this analogous question: Is a film funny because people laugh at it or do people laugh at it because it's funny? If we say it's funny because people laugh at it, we're saying something rather strange. We're saying that the film only has the property of being funny because certain people have a certain attitude toward it.

But Socrates argues that this gets things the wrong way round. People laugh at a film because it has a certain intrinsic property, the property of being funny. This is what makes them laugh.

Similarly, things aren't pious because the gods view them in a certain way. Rather, the gods love pious actions such as helping a stranger in need, because such actions have a certain intrinsic property, the property of being pious.

4th definition: Piety is that part of justice concerned with caring for the gods.

Socrates' Objection: The notion of care involved here is unclear. It can't be the sort of care a dog owner gives to its dog since that aims at improving the dog. But we can't improve the gods. If it's like the care an enslaved person gives his enslaver, it must aim at some definite shared goal. But Euthyphro can't say what that goal is.

5th Definition: Piety is saying and doing what is pleasing to the gods at prayer and sacrifice. 

Socrates' Objection: When pressed, this definition turns out to be just the third definition in disguise. After Socrates shows how this is so, Euthyphro says in effect, "Oh dear, is that the time? Sorry, Socrates, I have to go."