Holiness in Euthyphro Holiness in "Euthyphro"

In Plato's Euthyphro, the concept of holiness emerges in the dialogue when the title character Euthyphro tells the philosopher Socrates of his intention to prosecute his father. Euthyphro is convinced of his father's guilt and thus sees himself as virtuous for valuing justice over familial respect. Because Socrates is going to court to defend himself against his accusers, who claim that his teachings corrupt the Athenian youth, it is shown that both Socrates and Euthyphro are going to court for reasons pertaining to a definition of piety or holiness. Socrates is skeptical of Euthyphro's definition of holiness and so pushes his friend to elaborate on what it means to be holy. Thus the concept of holiness takes a prominent position in the dialogue: Socrates wants a true or established definition of piety, and Euthyphro wants merely to make unsupported assertions.

Euthyphro essentially gives three definitions of piety to Socrates. First, he defines holiness by referring to himself as an example of holiness. He states that to be holy is to do as he does, that is to pursue the course of justice, or "prosecuting any one who is guilty of murder, sacrilege, or of any similar crime" (Plato, 1999, p. 15). His second definition of holiness is a clarification of the first: Euthyphro states that holiness is something which is loved by the gods. His third definition attempts to clarify still further: he states that holiness is the attempt to learn the ways in which one might please through...

Socrates wants objective truth. But Euthyphro's definitions are based ultimately upon the presumption that he is right and therefore need not question himself. Each definition repeats this presumption. Socrates calls attention to it each time. To the first definition, that holiness is to do as Euthyphro does, Socrates answers by asking whether it is holy to prosecute one's father for murder. Of course this is not what Euthyphro means. Thus, Socrates obliges Euthyphro to explain what he means by prosecuting others and convicting others of some guilt.
To Euthyphro's second definition of holiness, that holiness is that which is loved of the gods, Socrates states that the very gods are always quarreling and fighting and therefore cannot be in agreement about holiness, since none of them love entirely the same things. To Euthyphro's third definition, that holiness is the act of attempting to please the gods, Socrates points out that Euthyphro is but a mere mortal and that the gods are immortal and thus can in no way gain anything from Euthyphro. In this manner, Socrates points out Euthyphro's pride, lack of humility, and lack of objectivity. For Socrates, all truth is grounded in humility and in objective awareness, as any true definition of holiness should be.

Socrates' goal in this dialogue is to show Euthyphro that the latter's understanding of piety is shallow and conceited. Socrates asks Euthyphro…