I would like to first start off by saying I’ve enjoyed reading the dialogues that I’ve read so far. They have really expanded my mind and made me want to make more room for self-improvement based on the way I think, and to question my logic as well as others to get a full knowledge or understanding of the truth. So let me summarize Euthyphro then give my thoughts on this dialogue.
Plato opens up the dialogue with Euthyphro, and showcases the Socrates technique and manner in questioning people. In the Euthyphro dialogue, Socrates is on his way to court to defend the charges of Meletus that he creates his own gods and does not believe in the gods of society. On his way to the court he meets Euthyphro, who is supposedly a lawyer-priest of some sort who tells Socrates that he is prosecuting his own father for the murder of a slave. But the slave also murdered someone else too. Socrates then asks the “wise” Euthyphro to explain to him the truth about what is pious and what impious, since he claims to know the answer and that he could explain it to Socrates; if he can tell the court what he has learned from the knowledgeable Euthyphro, he will have no trouble answering Meletus' charges. Euthyphro tries to define what is pious as that which is pleasing to the gods, but Socrates shows him that his definition is really just an effect of piety, and Euthyphro never gives Socrates the answer to what pious and impious means.
When I first started reading Euthyphro, I actually thought Socrates himself was a sophist. He just came off as an arrogant, know it all, wise guy, that was trying to make a fool out of people. Socrates then suggests he should be a pupil of Euthyphro and asks questions that he knows Euthyphro cannot answer. I felt that Socrates knew Euthphyro could not answer his question, I don’t know if anyone else got that vibe. It then made me feel that Socrates was being dishonest to be a pupil to people he knows that can't answer his questions. It was as if he just kept asking questions to make Euthyphro dig a deeper hole for himself. Maybe he was just giving him the benefit of the doubt. But upon further reading, I genuinely believe that Socrates just really wants to enlighten people and point out contradictions to make you take a step back and reevaluate, to open your eyes and realize you’re not always right. What you think you know, may or may not be the truth, and we must further examine. By going in any conversation ignorant and leaving behind what you think you know, is actually wisdom; a person is wise because he or she is not wise. Socrates is amongst the wise because he admits his ignorance but at the same time displaying true wisdom in his usual manner of questioning. In this dialogue, Socrates used repetitive questions and uses of analogies to point out Euthyphro’s contradictions. On page 12-18 is the part I had to reread until I think I had a clear understanding. It blew my mind, it was very mind boggling. It sounded like a riddle. I know I’m not the only one who had to reread that part, lol. I swear I read those pages at least a dozen times. There were just too many repetitive questions and analogies, I had to go back and connect them with the original question of what is pious and impious. I was really hoping Euthyphro would just admit that he is not as wise as he thinks he is and just say he really doesn’t know the answer. We as humans sometimes do not like self-correction. It is hard to admit you’re wrong or you don’t know something, due to your beliefs. My hopes upon reading this are that myself and others will change how we view life and interaction between others. Socrates is just seeking the truth and will not stop seeking wisdom until the truth is revealed. I too want to seek the truth and now ask a series of questions just like Socrates. Although, it drives my parents and friends crazy, I will not stop. :)
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