Euthyphro

Summary: Socrates has been accused of impiety and in order to prepare for the court he ask the prophet Euthyphro about the nature of piety. Euthyphro is sure of his knowledge of the gods and what piety is, he is even willing to persecute his own father because he believes it is what the gods demand. However, as Euthyphro answers what piety is and Socrates questions him, the answer for what piety is keeps on changing. Eventually the Socrates points out the dilemma of piety and it's circular definition: Is it pious because it is loved by the gods, or is it loved by the gods because it is pious? At the end Euthyphro leaves as Socrates vows to continue asking until the truth is reached.

Quick Observations: We can be sure that we have knowledge of something, yet at the same time we can sometimes not express this knowledge. If we keep changing our answers to satisfy the question, then what does our confidence mean?

I notice a similar concept from Republic, a career is good when it improves the condition of its subject. A good doctor improves the health of the patient, a good king improves the prosperity of his people.

A thing is lifted because it is being lifted, it isn't lifted because it's property is being lifted. I think this concept popped up in Republic as well, an important distinction for Plato.

I imagine that in monoteistic religions the dilemma is avoided by making divinity and good inseparable, that God and good are the same thing/being.

My Own Take: I think we can recognize ourselves in Euthyphro. If he would admit to ignorance on piety, it would jeopardize his place in society as a prophet and his sense of self. Would he still have a reason to prosecute his father? Would he be ridiculed for then abandoning his prosecution? Only a select few scholars have any real expertise in an area and even then they are just as ignorant as you outside of it. But due to factors of ego, social pressure, lack of time and interest, we cannot admit ignorance on what we don't know.