Euthyphro

A detailed Summary of Euthyphro

This drama effectively illustrates the difference between thinking you know something and truly knowing it. Euthyphro believes himself to be the authority in the practice and interpretation of his religion. Euthyphro has a great deal of respect for Socrates and is shocked to find that he has been charged with corrupting the minds of Athen's youth. When Socrates asks what brings Euthyphro to court, Socrates is equally shocked to find that Euthyphro is prosecuting his own father for murder. Socrates' response to this clearly identifies this as socially unacceptable and at the same time challenges Euthyphros wisdom, "By the powers, Euthyphro! How little does the common herd know about what is right in such a case. A man must be an extraordinary man and have made great strides in wisdom before he could have been able to bring this charge" (10). Euthyphro's reply is simply, "Indeed, Socrates, he must have made great strides" (10). Socrates is of course intrigued and amused at Euthypro's attitude and pompousness and decides to investigate it further. At first it is hard to detect Socrates' use of irony towards Euthyphro, but it becomes more and more apparent as the drama unfolds. Euthyphro explains to

Socrates that it does not matter if a man is a relative or not, if he has done something unholy, he must be punished. What makes this matter even worse is the fact that his father did not intentionally kill this man. The man he had allegedly murdered killed another slave in a drunken rage. Euthyphro's father was so angered by this, that he bound his hands and feet and threw him into a ditch. He then left the man in the ditch to seek council from a priest on how to deal with this matter. While in the ditch, the man died of exposure. When Socrates hears this, he again questions Euthyphro, "Have you such precise knowledge of the holy and the unholy, and of divine things in general, that you are not afraid you too may be doing an unholy thing bringing a case against your father?" (10). Euthyphro replies, "The best of Euthyphro, and that which distinguishes him, Socrates, from other men, is his exact knowledge of all these matters" (10). Socrates is convinced at this point that Euthyphro is seriously misguided and begins to patronize Euthyphro. Socrates asks to become Euthyphro's disciple so that he can use this as defense against his upcoming trial. Euthyphro agrees to this and is confident that it would help Socrates. Socrates already realizes that Euthyphro has no idea what he is talking about and begins to ask questions of his new teacher. Since Euthyphro has proclaimed himself to be all knowing of religion to the extent that his knowledge is above all other men, Socrates seeks the answer to

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Approximate Word count = 1019
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Miscellaneous