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Socrates then replies with the creation of a dilemma -- would the things and people be considered pious because they are loved by gods, or would the gods all love them because they are pious. After a deeper process of thought, Socrates himself defines piety as a species of the genus 'justice, but Euthyphro insists on defining piety based on what the gods like. Piety is eventually described as knowledge and prayer, to the benefit of the gods (Plato).
It is often argued that ethics has its origins in religion, which means that whenever an individual is facing a moral dilemma, they would be able to find the answer in invoking the Divinity. Nevertheless, religion is often conflicting and history has provided numerous examples in this sense, such as the Crusades for the Holly Grail or the tortures of the Inquisition.
A relevant situation of ethical dilemma is represented by the act of taking life. Under normal circumstances, such an action is forbidden, but the Church has also accepted the killing of the enemy during war time. Additionally, killing to defend one self is often forgiven by the Church, as the worldly impersonation of the Divinity.
In such a context then, the problem raised when invoking the gods, or God, is represented by the relativity of each situation....
And this relativity becomes more obvious and more challenging when religious differences occur. For instance, while in Christianity it is forbidden to take one's life, in Buddhism, suicide is accepted for the enlightened ones, who leave the planet free from anger, hate and fear and who are prepared for reincarnation (BBC, 2009).
In all these complex issues, the need for a small, still voice is revealed by Jean Paul Sartre. To interpret this quip, one could argue that the individual has to be still in the meaning of being determined and balanced. He would have to combine the mental and physical abilities and responsibilities and lead a life of equilibrium. In all these however, he would have to recognize that he is small, puny and that his own life on this earth is like that of an ant in an anthill.
References:
Cooper, J.G., 2010, the life of Socrates: collected from the Memorabilia of Xenophon and the Dialogues of Plato and illustrated farther by Aristotle, Diodorus Siculus, BiblioBazaar, 2010
Plato, the last days of Socrates, http://socrates.clarke.edu / last accessed on March 4, 2011
Euthanasia and suicide, BBC, 2009, http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/buddhistethics/euthanasiasuicide.shtml last accessed on March 4, 2011
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