CHAPTER XI

Euthyphron.

Situation supposed in the dialogue--interlocutors 437

Indictment by Melêtus against Sokrates--Antipathy of the Athenians towards those who spread heretical opinions 437

Euthyphron recounts that he is prosecuting an indictment for murder against his own father--Displeasure of his friends at the proceeding 438

Euthyphron expresses full confidence that this step of his is both required and warranted by piety or holiness. Sokrates asks him--What is Holiness? 439

Euthyphron alludes to the punishment of Uranus by his son Kronus and of Kronus by his son Zeus 440

Sokrates intimates his own hesitation in believing these stories of discord among the Gods. Euthyphron declares his full belief in them, as well as in many similar narratives, not in so much circulation _ib._

Bearing of this dialogue on the relative position of Sokrates and the Athenian public 441

Dramatic moral set forth by Aristophanes against Sokrates and the freethinkers, is here retorted by Plato against the orthodox champion 442

Sequel of the dialogue--Euthyphron gives a particular example as the reply to a general question 444

Such mistake frequent in dialectic discussion _ib._

First general answer given by Euthyphron--that which is pleasing to the Gods is holy. Comments of Sokrates thereon 445

To be loved by the Gods is not the essence of the Holy--they love it because it is holy. In what then does its essence consist? Perplexity of Euthyphron 446

Sokrates suggests a new answer. The Holy is one branch or variety of the Just. It is that branch which concerns ministration by men to the Gods 447

Ministration to the Gods? How? To what purpose? _ib._

Holiness--rectitude in sacrifice and prayer--right traffic between men and the Gods 448

This will not stand--the Gods gain nothing--they receive from men marks of honour and gratitude--they are pleased therewith--the Holy, therefore, must be that which is pleasing to the Gods 448

This is the same explanation which was before declared insufficient. A fresh explanation is required from Euthyphron. He breaks off the dialogue _ib._

Sokratic spirit of the dialogue--confessed ignorance applying the Elenchus to false persuasion of knowledge 449

The questions always difficult, often impossible to answer. Sokrates is unable to answer them, though he exposes the bad answers of others _ib._

Objections of Theopompus to the Platonic procedure 450

Objective view of Ethics, distinguished by Sokrates from the subjective 451

Subjective unanimity coincident with objective dissent _ib._

Cross-examination brought to bear upon this mental condition by Sokrates--position of Sokrates and Plato in regard to it 452

The Holy--it has an essential characteristic--what is this?--not the fact that it is loved by the Gods--this is true, but is not its constituent essence 454

Views of the Xenophontic Sokrates respecting the Holy--different from those of the Platonic Sokrates--he disallows any common absolute general type of the Holy--he recognises an indefinite variety of types, discordant and relative _ib._

The Holy a branch of the Just--not tenable as a definition, but useful as bringing to view the subordination of logical terms 455

The Euthyphron represents Plato's way of replying to the charge of impiety, preferred by Melêtus against Sokrates--comparison with Xenophon's way of replying _ib._