What is Socrates saying in the apology?

What is Socrates saying in the apology?

Socrates tells the “men of Athens” that he wants to be judged according to his account of himself and not by any other standard — such as appealing to his old age or the fact that he has children. Thus Socrates wishes to be judged and not “forgiven” or let off for any other reason than that it is JUST to do so.

How does Socrates define piety?

Euthyphro’s second definition: Piety is what is pleasing to the gods. (6e–7a) Socrates applauds this definition, because it is expressed in a general form, but criticizes it saying that the gods disagree among themselves as to what is pleasing.

What example of the Socratic method can be found in Socrates apology?

When Socrates is found guilty, he goes on to use the Socratic method to question the wisdom of his being put to death. After all, he argues, nobody knows whether death is a blessing or a curse; consequently it would be inconsistent of the jury to put him to death with the intention of punishing him.

What does Socrates want in asking for a definition of piety what things should a definition tell us about the thing being defined explain?

At Euthyphro 11a-b Socrates agrees that piety is loved by all the gods, and that what all the gods love is pious, but still objects to defining piety as what all the gods love. His objection is that it is not because it is loved by the gods that a pious thing is pious.

What is the main theme of the apology?

The central theme of the dialogue is wisdom. After having spent a lifetime trying to answer the question himself, Socrates is brought to trial for corrupting the young, disbelieving in the gods that the city believed in, and teaching others to believe in new spiritual things.

What is the apology and why was it written?

A dialogue written in Greek and set in Athens in 399 bce; probably written soon after 399 bce. The Apology dramatizes the trial that condemned Socrates to death for being insufficiently religious and for corrupting Athenian youth.

How does Socrates respond to this definition of piety impiety?

He says, “Piety is what is dear to the gods and impiety is that which is not dear to them.” Upon examination by Socrates, this statement turns out to be no more satisfactory than the former one. Euthyphro then insists that piety is that which is pleasing to all of the gods.

What is the final definition of piety?

Piety is what the Gods love and Impiety is what the Gods hate. Objections to Definition 1. There are many Gods, whom all may not agree on what particular things are pious or impious. It therefore means that certain acts or deeds could therefore be considered both pious and impious. A self defeating definition.

How does Socrates show that Euthyphro’s definition of piety is problematic?

So he asks Euthyphro to explain to him what piety is. Socrates’ Objection: According to Euthyphro, the gods sometimes disagree among themselves about questions of justice. So some things are loved by some gods and hated by others. On this definition, these things will be both pious and impious, which makes no sense.

What does Socrates look for in a definition?

Socrates evaluates definitions (proposed by his interlocutors or himself) by considering their consistency with conditions of the identity of F (F- conditions) to which he is committed. In evaluating proposed definitions, Socrates seeks to determine their truth-value.

What is the importance of the Apology of Socrates?

The importance of “The Apology” and Socrates is that he served as a symbol towards the fundamental question of the “why” in life. Socrates argues that in a society like Athens where the ability to ask these types of questions are denied, the overall happiness of its citizens will eventually perish.

What does Socrates mean by piety according to Plato?

The first definition that Euthyphro provides to Socrates is that “the pious is to do what I am doing now to prosecute the wrongdoer” (Plato, Euthyphro, Grube trans., p. 9). This is merely an example of piety, and Socrates is seeking a definition, not one or two pious actions.

What does Socrates want Euthyphro to teach him about piety?

This is where Socrates begins his dialogue with Euthyphro seeking the definition of piety. Socrates wants Euthyphro to teach him the meaning of piety since Euthyphro considers himself an authority on the subject.

What does Socrates say about Meletus in his apology?

Not long after beginning his apologia (or defense), Socrates says that powerful men like Meletus think he has used his philosopher’s knowledge to spread confusion. This, Socrates assures the jury, is not true, as he claims to “know nothing at all” about anything that might challenge the conventional systems of belief that prevail throughout Athens.

Is piety determined by the gods?

He argues “what is dear to the gods is pious, what is not is impious (Loc. cit., 7a, p. 11). Therefore piety is determined by the gods. According to this argument, this cannot be true because, how can all the gods find everything to be pious when what is just to some gods is unjust to others, and what one god finds beautiful another would not.