It has been noted that Socrates was accused and convicted of impiety. Specifically, he was accused of breaking with traditional religion and introducing dangerous new ideas about the gods. It is true that he frequently claimed to have heard a divine voice within (daemon). He was soon to stand trial on this charge (as well as that of corrupting the youth of Athens) when he met Euthyphro at the courthouse. Euthyphro was prosecuting his father, which on the face of it was an impious act. But he appealed to his knowledge of the divine and claimed instead that to do so was pious. His claim to know better than others what piety was met with Socrates' ironic request to be taught about it. After all, if Euthyphro were right, he would meet Socrates' demand for conceptual clarity before the discussion of specific issues. With a proper conception of piety, one could determine whether a specific act, be it that of Euthyphro or Socrates, is pious.
22.3.09
Plato Part 26 - Piety and the Pious Act
It has been noted that Socrates was accused and convicted of impiety. Specifically, he was accused of breaking with traditional religion and introducing dangerous new ideas about the gods. It is true that he frequently claimed to have heard a divine voice within (daemon). He was soon to stand trial on this charge (as well as that of corrupting the youth of Athens) when he met Euthyphro at the courthouse. Euthyphro was prosecuting his father, which on the face of it was an impious act. But he appealed to his knowledge of the divine and claimed instead that to do so was pious. His claim to know better than others what piety was met with Socrates' ironic request to be taught about it. After all, if Euthyphro were right, he would meet Socrates' demand for conceptual clarity before the discussion of specific issues. With a proper conception of piety, one could determine whether a specific act, be it that of Euthyphro or Socrates, is pious.
