Socrates - Definitions of Piety Essay -- Socrates Plato Philosophy

Socrates - Definitions of religionDuring the Periclean age (around 400 B.C.) in Athens Greece there was a humans named Socrates. He was considered a very wise man by the Athenians. in timethere were men in power who did not care for him or his teachings Claiming thathe corrupted the Athenian youth and did not believe in the Greek gods, Socrateswas put on trail. On his way to his trial Socrates met a man named Euthyphro, aprofessional priest who is respected by the regime (those who want getrid of Socrates). Euthyphro is at the court house to indict his father formurder. Socrates finds this to be interesting. If Euthyphro can properly explainwhy he is prosecuting his father for murder Socrates might have an understandingof piety. This would help Socrates to campaign himself, for the prosecutors knowand think highly of Euthyphro. Socrates could then draw parallels betweenhimself and Euthyphro, who the citizens highly respect, thus bringing himrespect, and freedom. This is where So crates begins his dialogue with Euthyphroseeking the definition of piety. Socrates wants Euthyphro to teach him the nitty-gritty of piety since Euthyphro considers himself an authority on the subject.In this dialogue Euthyphro gives Socrates four diverse definitions of what hebelieves piety is, none of which prove satisfactory to Socrates, leaving the heading unanswered in the end.The first definition that Euthyphro provides to Socrates is that the...