Who is the character euthyphro

The man chiefly responsible for pressing charges against Socrates, bringing him to trial, and having him executed. Little is known about Meletus and by all accounts, he seems to have been a rather insignificant figure. Plato's portrayal of him, both in The Apology and in the Euthyphro, is far from sympathetic; Socrates' cross-examination of him in The Apology puts him to shame.

He does not actually appear in the Euthyphro, but he is mentioned on a number of occasions. SparkTeach Teacher's Handbook. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of every Shakespeare play.

Sign Up. Already have an account? Sign in. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Literature Poetry Lit Terms Shakescleare. Remember that I did not ask you to give me two or three examples of piety, but to explain the general idea which makes all pious things to be pious.

Do you not recollect that there was one idea which made the impious impious, and the pious pious? I remember. Tell me what is the nature of this idea, and then I shall have a standard to which I may look, and by which I may measure actions, whether yours or those of any one else, and then I shall be able to say that such and such an action is pious, such another impious. I will tell you, if you like.

I should very much like. Immediately following is Euthyphro's next proposal. Try to figure out why Socrates finds this proposal unsatisfactory. Note that when Socrates speaks above of "a standard to which I may look, and by which I may measure actions," he seems to be talking about something similar to what we are seeking in the normative ethics of behavior: a fundamental principle of right and wrong, or a statement of the necessary and sufficient conditions for moral rightness.

Yes, I should say that what all the gods love is pious and holy, and the opposite which they all hate, impious. Ought we to enquire into the truth of this, Euthyphro, or simply to accept the mere statement on our own authority and that of others? What do you say? We should enquire; and I believe that the statement will stand the test of enquiry. We shall know better, my good friend, in a little while. The point which I should first wish to understand is whether the pious or holy is beloved by the gods because it is holy, or holy because it is beloved of the gods.

I do not understand your meaning, Socrates. I will endeavour to explain: we, speak of carrying and we speak of being carried, of leading and being led, seeing and being seen. You know that in all such cases there is a difference, and you know also in what the difference lies? I think that I understand.

And is not that which is beloved distinct from that which loves? Well; and now tell me, is that which is carried in this state of carrying because it is carried, or for some other reason? No; that is the reason. And the same is true of what is led and of what is seen?

And a thing is not seen because it is visible, but conversely, visible because it is seen; nor is a thing led because it is in the state of being led, or carried because it is in the state of being carried, but the converse of this. And now I think, Euthyphro, that my meaning will be intelligible; and my meaning is, that any state of action or passion implies previous action or passion.

It does not become because it is becoming, but it is in a state of becoming because it becomes; neither does it suffer because it is in a state of suffering, but it is in a state of suffering because it suffers. Do you not agree? Is not that which is loved in some state either of becoming or suffering? Symbols All Symbols. Theme Wheel. Everything you need for every book you read.

The way the content is organized and presented is seamlessly smooth, innovative, and comprehensive. Euthyphro is a prophet and religious authority who boasts of significant knowledge about piety and other such religious concepts, but ultimately exposes his ignorance through his encounter with Socrates. Euthyphro serves as an implicit metaphor for the characters like Meletus who are charging Socrates with impiety despite lacking a defensible definition of the concept.

For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:. Euthyphro Quotes. Related Characters: Socrates speaker , Euthyphro speaker , Meletus. Related Themes: The Nature of Piety. Page Number and Citation : 3 Cite this Quote. Explanation and Analysis:. Related Characters: Euthyphro speaker , Socrates. Page Number and Citation : 5 Cite this Quote. Related Characters: Socrates speaker , Euthyphro speaker.

Page Number and Citation : 6 Cite this Quote. Page Number and Citation : Cite this Quote. Related Characters: Socrates speaker , Euthyphro. Page Number and Citation : 10 Cite this Quote.

Related Symbols: Daedalus.