Socrates and Euthyphro cross paths outside the Athenian court. Socrates faces charges of corrupting the youth and impiety, for not adhering the city's religious beliefs and introducing unconventional divine figures. Euthyphro is present to prosecute his own father for the alleged murder of a servant who had killed another slave. Despite the widely held belief that it is impious to accuse one's father, Euthyphro asserts that his action is justified driven by his understanding of religious duty and the need to purify his household of bloodguilt—a concept that challenge traditional Athenian norm.

Unexpected Encounter

Ultimately, Euthyphro, unable to provide a satisfactory definition that withstands Socrates' relentless questioning, abruptly concludes their dialogue, suggesting he has other engagements to attend to.

Ending

Seeking to refine his definition, Euthyphro asserts that piety is what all the gods love universally, and impiety is what they collectively despise.Socrates, in turn, queries whether actions are pious because the gods love them or if the gods love them because they are inherently pious — a crucial distinction Euthyphro struggles to clarify.(This is where the famous Euthyphro dillema came from).

Third Definition

The Greek term "hosion," translated as piety or the pious, encompasses both religious correctness and moral righteousness. Euthyphro initially defines piety narrowly as the correct performance of religious rituals and practices, including the prosecution of wrongdoers. In contrast, Socrates, known for his philosophical inquiries, expands the discussion to consider piety as a broader concept related to moral virtue and righteous living.

Piety

Further attempting to define piety, Euthyphro suggests it involves caring for the gods' well-being or interests.Socrates questions the nature of this care, highlighting its ambiguity and the difficulty in defining it in practical terms, akin to the care one might provide a pet or master.It can't be the sort of care a dog owner gives to its dog since that aims at improving the dog. But we can't improve the gods. If it's like the care an enslaved person gives his enslaver, it must aim at some definite shared goal. But Euthyphro can't say what that goal is.

Fourth Definition

Lastly, Euthyphro defines piety as doing and saying what pleases the gods during prayers and sacrifices.However, under Socrates' scrutiny, this definition circles back to the previous definition (3rd definition in disguise), where the essence of piety remains elusive.

Fifth Definition

In their dialogue, Socrates playfully engages Euthyphro, sarcastically expressing delight in meeting someone knowledgeable about piety, a subject crucial to his impending trial. He prompts Euthyphro to define piety, to which Euthyphro offers five successive definitions, each refuted by Socrates' critical analysis.

Euthyphro initially suggests that piety is synonymous with his act of prosecuting wrongdoers, such as his father.However, Socrates counters that this is merely an example of piety, not a comprehensive definition.

First Definition

Euthyphro then proposes that piety consists of actions loved by the gods, with impiety being what the gods detest. Socrates challenges this by pointing out that different gods may have conflicting preferences, rendering this definition problematic.

Second Definition

Euthyphro by Plato. Euthyphro by Plato, is a Socratic dialogue whose events occur in the weeks before the trial of Socrates (399 BC), for which Socrates and Euthyphro attempt to establish a definitive meaning for the word piety (virtue). This Euthyphro and Socrates are represented as meeting in the porch of the King Archon. (Compare Theaet.) Both have legal business in hand. Socrates is defendant in a suit for impiety which Meletus has brought against him (it is remarked by the way that he is not a likely man himself to have brought a suit against another); and Euthyphro too is plaintiff in an action for murder, which he has brought against his own father. The latter has originated in the following manner: -A poor dependant of the family had slain one of their domestic slaves in Naxos. The guilty person was bound and thrown into a ditch by the command of Euthyphro's father, who sent to the interpreters of religion at Athens to ask what should be done with him. Before the messenger came back the criminal had died from hunger and exposure