Let’s talk about Socrates.
#1: Introducing the first of Four Dialogues by Plato: Euthyphro
Everyone has heard of Socrates—even if you just know him as “So-Crates” from Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure—but have you read his work? That’s a trick question, because Socrates didn’t write anything. Thankfully, his most famous student, Plato, did. While the dialogue in Bill and Ted was hilarious, Plato’s Dialogues are even better. If you’re interested in philosophy, religion, reincarnation, past lives, overcoming the fear of death, and the persistence of the soul, you’ve just got to read Plato’s Four Dialogues leading up to his own execution: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, and Phaedo.
But since most people aren’t reading Plato in their spare time, I’ll hit some of the high points for you in this blog. I hope it sparks your interest in this brilliant philosopher, whose work is as relevant and fascinating today as it was when he was alive more than 2,400 years ago.
Who was Socrates?
Only the Father of Western philosophy. Socrates was a Greek philosopher with a fun sense of humor who relentlessly questioned anyone and everyone who came to him thinking they already knew all the answers. This practice came to be known as the Socratic Method. Socrates’s persistence in asking questions forces his audience to use critical thinking—so you can thank Socrates for making your 4th grader’s homework so “rigorous.” Reading Socrates’s arguments today, I can understand why he was eventually poisoned with hemlock. I think he was a genius, but I would not have wanted to be married to him. Socrates was born in Athens, and lived from 470–399 BC. You can read books about Socrates for free online or find them in almost any public library, so I will leave it to someone wiser to tell you more about the man—today, I want to focus on his message.
Dialogue 1: Euthyphro
This is the first book in a four-part series leading up to Socrates’s execution. I’ll tell you now that my favorite one is Phaedo, but I think it’s helpful to read all four, to understand the whole story. I’ll post a synopsis of the next dialogue in my next blog.
Overview:
Socrates explains to Euthyphro that he is being prosecuted by a young man named Meletus for “corrupting the youth,” on charges of impiety. If you’re not sure what impiety means, you’re not alone. Webster says “godlessness,” but that answer would never have satisfied Socrates. He spends 10 pages (nearly the entire dialogue) trying to get Euthyphro to nail down an accurate definition, and consequently tears apart every definition offered. It’s tremendous fun to read. It reminds me of when teenagers start asking difficult questions about the Old Testament in Youth Group, except in this case the argument is about Zeus, Athena and the gang.
First, Euthyphro says piety is that which is pleasing to the gods, and impiety is that which is hateful to the gods. Socrates points out that there are many different gods, and they all have different opinions. Euthyphro counters that there are some things all the gods agree on, like “murder is wrong” and “the guilty should be punished.” Socrates concedes that point, but then changes the subject, and they talk in circles until Euthyphro gets frustrated. Finally, he gets a definition from Euthyphro: “Let me simply say that piety or holiness is learning how to please the gods in word and deed, by prayers and sacrifices.” Socrates points out that, while people certainly have a lot to gain from what gods may give, he can’t understand what benefit the gods get from our sacrifices. Euthyphro patiently explains that they are tributes of honor which please the gods, but Socrates still won’t let it go. Finally, Euthyphro makes the classic excuse to end a conversation that’s not going anywhere: He’s in a hurry and has to leave.
We’ll hear more about the charges against Socrates later, but one interesting thing this book reveals is that Socrates has come under fire for talking about his “daemon,” not to be confused with demon. A daemon is basically a benevolent Greek spirit. It sounds crazy today, but I imagine it’s not unlike how some people might say they have a guardian angel, or they “have a good feeling” (or a bad feeling) about an event in their lives. They may even call it a “sign,” although most won’t go so far as to say “a sign from God.” But if not God, then whom? It’s very interesting to me to think that humans have felt connected or led by the divine even going back thousands of years, and I don’t think it makes Socrates crazy at all. I think it makes him perceptive.
At any rate, Euthyphro gets it. He’s a fortune-teller himself, although he says people laugh at his predictions. Still, he tries not to make them angry by telling them what they don’t want to hear. To which Socrates replies:
“I dare say not, for you are reserved in your behavior, and seldom impart your wisdom. But I have a benevolent habit of pouring out myself to everybody, and would even pay for a listener, and I am afraid that the Athenians may think me too talkative. Now if, as I was saying, they would only laugh at me, as you say that they laugh at you, the time might pass gaily enough in in the court; but perhaps they may be in earnest, and then what the end will be you soothsayers only can predict.”
Why I love this Plato quote:
#1 Socrates has a fabulous sense of humor, and is self-deprecating, too. I love that he says he would pay for a listener. How many YouTubers can relate?
#2 We don’t need a soothsayer to know things aren’t going to end well for Socrates.
#3 Socrates flatters the soothsayers in this quote, but it’s empty praise. Right after he says this, Euthyphro predicts Socrates will win his upcoming lawsuit. (Spoiler alert: he doesn’t.)
Next episode: Apology
In the next dialogue, Socrates argues his innocence, claims ignorance and wisdom simultaneously, and provokes the court by suggesting they foot the bill to maintain his current lifestyle indefinitely. You don’t want to miss it! Read it here: https://www.laurienantzewilliamson.com/blog/platos-dialogue-2-apology
What do you think?
Have you read Euthyphro? You can find it here, for free. If you’ve already read it, what were your thoughts? Can you define piety? Let me know in the comment section below.