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Monday, August 3, 2009

Euthyphro,Ευθύφρων by Plato

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Socrates has been charged by Melerus with corrupting the youth of Athens and with inventing new gods ; and he seeks to learn fron Euthyphro,who is prosecuting his own father for murder,the distinction between PIETY and IMPIETY.
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Euthyphro suggests that PIETY is prosecuting the unjust,
those who have committed such crimes as murder or sacrilege ;
IMPIETY is failure to prosecute such persons.
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But Socrates points out that this is an example,not a definition ;
and thus Euthyphro suggests that PIETY is whatever is pleasing to the gods,
and IMPIETY is whatever is displeasing to them.
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But Socrates rejects Euthyphro's definition on the ground that
the gods do not agree in attitude concerning the acts of men,
nor is it satisfactory to say that the pious is what all the gods love,
for the pertinent question concerns the nature of PIETY in virtue of which the gods love it.
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If,as Eythyphro then claims,PIETY is paying careful attention to the gods,
by means of prayer and worship,
for the benefit of man,
then PIETY seems to be loved by gods even through it is of no benefit to the gods ;
but this runs counter to the previous claim that PIETY is good not simply because the gods love it.
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