# Euthyphro explained — Dialogues

> Chapter companion for Dialogues by Plato.

## What happens

Socrates encounters Euthyphro at the Porch of the King Archon, where he learns that Euthyphro is prosecuting his own father for murder. Socrates, himself facing a charge of impiety, engages Euthyphro in a dialogue about the nature of piety, seeking a definition that can guide his own defense. The conversation explores various definitions of piety, including the idea that piety is what is loved by the gods, which leads to the famous Euthyphro dilemma. Ultimately, Euthyphro fails to provide a satisfactory definition and leaves the conversation unresolved.

## Themes in this chapter

### Justice and Injustice

The dialogue examines the nature of piety as a part of justice, questioning whether actions are pious because the gods love them or loved because they are pious.

### Knowledge and Ignorance

Euthyphro claims expert knowledge of piety but is unable to provide a consistent definition, highlighting Socratic ignorance and the pursuit of true knowledge.

## Character check-ins

### Socrates

Socrates initiates the dialogue, questioning Euthyphro about piety and impiety while facing his own indictment for impiety.

### Euthyphro

Euthyphro is prosecuting his father for murder and claims to have precise knowledge of piety, but fails to define it consistently.

## Key lines

> I am not the maker of my own case; but I am thought to be a maker of gods, and on this account I am going to be indicted.

Socrates explains that he is accused of inventing new gods and is therefore being prosecuted.

_Socrates contrasts his situation with Euthyphro's, as both are involved in legal cases concerning piety._

> Piety, then, is that which is dear to the gods, and impiety is that which is not dear to them.

Euthyphro defines piety as what the gods love, and impiety as what they do not love.

_This definition leads to the Euthyphro dilemma: is something pious because the gods love it, or do the gods love it because it is pious?_

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dialogues_se/chapters/euthyphro
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dialogues_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dialogues_se/chapters