Euthyphro first held that piety is doing what he is doing. That is, it is pious to prosecute the wrongdoer, no matter who it is. Of course, this means that it is pious to prosecute one's own father, should he happen to be a wrongdoer. One can see here that the basis for piety is in some way to be found in justice. Prosecuting the wrongdoer would be bringing him to justice for the commission of an unjust act. That is, one is bound "not to favor the ungodly, whoever they are." Euthyphro defended the generality of his proposal ("no matter who it is") on the grounds that even Zeus had prosecuted his own father. Since, presumably, what Zeus does is pious because he is a god, one cannot accuse someone of impiety for prosecuting his father. The problem Socrates finds with the first account is that it is not general enough to encompass all pious acts. Euthyphro later cites as pious acts prayer and ritual sacrifice. What do these have in common with prosecution of wrongdoers?
22.3.09
Plato Part 28 - The First Account of Piety
Euthyphro first held that piety is doing what he is doing. That is, it is pious to prosecute the wrongdoer, no matter who it is. Of course, this means that it is pious to prosecute one's own father, should he happen to be a wrongdoer. One can see here that the basis for piety is in some way to be found in justice. Prosecuting the wrongdoer would be bringing him to justice for the commission of an unjust act. That is, one is bound "not to favor the ungodly, whoever they are." Euthyphro defended the generality of his proposal ("no matter who it is") on the grounds that even Zeus had prosecuted his own father. Since, presumably, what Zeus does is pious because he is a god, one cannot accuse someone of impiety for prosecuting his father. The problem Socrates finds with the first account is that it is not general enough to encompass all pious acts. Euthyphro later cites as pious acts prayer and ritual sacrifice. What do these have in common with prosecution of wrongdoers?
