This study guide is part of The Last Days of Socrates series. For a brief introduction to Socrates and this series you can click on the provided link. You can also download the PDF of Plato’s Euthyphro HERE. If you are interested in seeing other study guides that have been published, are in production, or are in line for the future you can go HERE. Thanks for stopping by Study The Great Books!
Grammar Questions: (The Information of the Text)
How does Socrates describe his accuser, Meletus? (pg. 1)
What two charges does Socrates say Meletus has made against him? (pg. 1-2)
What are the circumstances that led to Euthyphro’s suit at court? (pg. 2-4)
How does Euthyphro first answer Socrates’ question, “What is piety and what is impiety?” (pg. 4)
What “proof” does Euthyphro offer that he is right to do as he is doing? (pg. 5)
What is the second, more refined, definition of Piety offered by Euthyphro? (pg. 6)
What do Socrates and Euthyphro agree that “the gods were admitted to have”? (pg. 6)
What things does Socrates say “every man” loves and hates? (pg. 7)
What does Socrates say Euthyphro may be doing by “chastising” his father? (pg. 8)
Logic Questions: (Interpreting, Comparing/Contrasting, Reasoning)
Why is Euthyphro “amused” that Socrates makes “a distinction between one who is a relation and one who is not a relation”? (pg. 3)
Why does Socrates say to Euthyphro, “I think that I cannot do better than be your disciple”? (pg. 4)
Why does Socrates seem to doubt the stories of the poets? (pg. 5)
Why doesn’t Socrates accept Euthyphro’s first definition of piety? (pg. 6)
Why can’t matters of justice, good and evil, honor and dishonor, be decided in the same way as the other disagreements mentioned? (pg. 6-7)
What is the primary difference between Euthyphro’s first definition and second definition of piety? Why does Socrates prefer the second to the first as far as the kind of definition it is?
Why is it a problem that “what is loved by the gods is also hated by them”? (pg. 8)
Rhetoric Questions: (The Analysis of Ideas in the Text)
Euthyphro believes that we should not show any partiality in matters of justice, even where our own family is concerned. This amazes Socrates! Is Euthyphro right or wrong? Explain why you think as you do.
Is defining by example an illegitimate way to offer a definition of something? Why or why not? What are some other ways of defining a term? Are there times when one kind of definition is more helpful than another? If so, what would be such a case?
Is it possible to decide what is just or unjust, pious or impious, good or evil since these are not things which may be numerically measured? If so, by what means? If not, why not?
Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)
Read Acts 17:16-34 about Paul being in Athens. Euthyphro says that Meletus thinks Socrates is a “neologian.” (pg. 2) What connection might we make between this claim and what is reported to us in Acts?
Read Deuteronomy 16:18-20. How might this passage have implications upon our current reading?
Read Isaiah 45:21. How does Yahweh’s claim here have importance to this current discussion?