EUTHYPHRO: Yes, I do.
would be no meaning in an art which gives to SOCRATES: And sacrificing is giving to the gods, any one that which he does not want.
and prayer is asking of the gods?
EUTHYPHRO: Very true, Socrates.
EUTHYPHRO: Yes, Socrates.
SOCRATES: Then piety, Euthyphro, is an art SOCRATES: Upon this view, then, piety is a sci-which gods and men have of doing business with ence of asking and giving?
one another?
EUTHYPHRO: You understand me capitally, EUTHYPHRO: That is an expression which you Socrates.
may use, if you like.
SOCRATES: Yes, my friend; the reason is that I SOCRATES: But I have no particular liking for am a votary of your science, and give my mind anything but the truth. I wish, however, that you to it, and therefore nothing which you say will would tell me what benefit accrues to the gods be thrown away upon me. Please then to tell me, from our gifts. There is no doubt about what they what is the nature of this service to the gods?
give to us; for there is no good thing which they Do you mean that we prefer requests and give do not give; but how we can give any good thing gifts to them?
to them in return is far from being equally clear.
EUTHYPHRO: Yes, I do.
If they give everything and we give nothing, that SOCRATES: Is not the right way of asking to ask must be an affair of business in which we have of them what we want?
very greatly the advantage of them.
EUTHYPHRO: Certainly.
EUTHYPHRO: And do you imagine, Socrates, that SOCRATES: And the right way of giving is to give any benefit accrues to the gods from our gifts?
to them in return what they want of us. There SOCRATES: But if not, Euthyphro, what is the 29
Euthyphro
meaning of gifts which are conferred by us upon not the same with that which is loved of the the gods?
gods? Have you forgotten?
EUTHYPHRO: What else, but tributes of honour; EUTHYPHRO: I quite remember.
and, as I was just now saying, what pleases SOCRATES: And are you not saying that what is them?
loved of the gods is holy; and is not this the same SOCRATES: Piety, then, is pleasing to the gods, as what is dear to them—do you see?
but not beneficial or dear to them?
EUTHYPHRO: True.
EUTHYPHRO: I should say that nothing could be SOCRATES: Then either we were wrong in our dearer.
former assertion; or, if we were right then, we SOCRATES: Then once more the assertion is re-are wrong now.
peated that piety is dear to the gods?
EUTHYPHRO: One of the two must be true.
EUTHYPHRO: Certainly.
SOCRATES: Then we must begin again and ask, SOCRATES: And when you say this, can you won-What is piety? That is an enquiry which I shall der at your words not standing firm, but walk-never be weary of pursuing as far as in me lies; ing away? Will you accuse me of being the and I entreat you not to scorn me, but to apply Daedalus who makes them walk away, not per-your mind to the utmost, and tell me the truth.
ceiving that there is another and far greater art-For, if any man knows, you are he; and therefore ist than Daedalus who makes them go round in I must detain you, like Proteus, until you tell. If a circle, and he is yourself; for the argument, as you had not certainly known the nature of piety you will perceive, comes round to the same point.
and impiety, I am confident that you would never, Were we not saying that the holy or pious was on behalf of a serf, have charged your aged fa-30
Euthyphro
ther with murder. You would not have run such a risk of doing wrong in the sight of the gods, and you would have had too much respect for the opinions of men. I am sure, therefore, that If you wish to view more of you know the nature of piety and impiety. Speak Plato’s works in PDF, be sure out then, my dear Euthyphro, and do not hide to return to
your knowledge.
EUTHYPHRO: Another time, Socrates; for I am
in a hurry, and must go now.
SOCRATES: Alas! my companion, and will you leave me in despair? I was hoping that you would instruct me in the nature of piety and impiety; and then I might have cleared myself of Meletus and his indictment. I would have told him that I If you wish to view more
had been enlightened by Euthyphro, and had given up rash innovations and speculations, in Electronic Classics Series which I indulged only through ignorance, and PDF files, return to
that now I am about to lead a better life.