Euthyphro

1.

How does Socrates describe the charge Meletus has brought against him? Does he think it is a serious
accusation? Why does Socrates say that Meletus is likely to be wise? (2c)

2.

There seem to be two charges against Socrates. Can you identify them? (2c, 3b)

3.

Why is Euthyphro in court? What does Euthyphro claim to know?

4.

What is Euthyphro's first response to the question: What is piety? And what is impiety? (5e) What is
Socrates' objection to the definition Euthyphro has proposed?

5.

Consider the actions and behavior of the gods (described at 6a-c). Why do you think Socrates finds it
hard to accept these stories about the gods as true?

6.

Why does Socrates say he wants Euthyphro to instruct him? Do you think he really expects to be
helped?

Note particularly the term "form" in 6d-e. The form of something is whatever makes it the kind of thing it
is. Socrates is asking for the "pattern," which all pious things share.
7.

At 7a Euthyphro puts forward the following definition: "What is dear to the gods is pious, what is not
is impious." Socrates shows Euthyphro that this definition leads to a contradiction if Euthyphro's
assumptions about the gods are true. What is the contradiction that follows from Euthyphro's
definition? What is the assumption about the gods, which leads to the contradiction?

8.

At 9e Euthyphro attempts a new definition of piety and impiety. What is it? Why does Socrates
object to this definition as well?

9.

At 10a Socrates asks the question, "Is the pious being loved by the gods because it is pious, or is it
pious because it is being loved by the gods?" Explain the difference. Why is this such an important
distinction?

10. At 11a-b Socrates distinguishes between the nature of a thing (in this case piety) and "an affect or
quality of it" (in this case the quality of being loved by all the gods). What is the difference?
11. After some help from Socrates (who suggests that the pious is a subcategory of the just), Euthyphro
attempts a fourth answer to the question: What is piety? "I think, Socrates, that the godly and pious is
the part of the just that is concerned with the care of the gods, while that concerned with the care of
men is the remaining part of justice." (12e) What are the two kinds of "care" that are distinguished
(13a and 13d-e)? Which is the sort of care relevant to Euthyphro's definition, that piety is the part of
justice concerned with "care of the gods"?
12. What is the problem with this attempted definition? Notice however, that Socrates thinks that they
are close to a solution to the problem. At 14c he says that Euthyphro was on the verge of solving the
problem, but he "turned away." If only he had answered as certain question, Socrates says, he would
"now have acquiredsufficient knowledge of the nature of piety." But Euthyphro didn't answer it.
What was the question? Consider possible answers to this question.
13. Why do you think that no answer is given in the dialogue? Has Euthyphro learned anything in the
course of this discussion? Have you, the reader? If so, what?

Apology
[Note that the Greek word which is translated "Apology" actually means "Defense"]
1. What is the function of Socrates' contrast between persuasion and truth?
2. Who are Socrates accusers? He speaks of two groups of accusers, the "earlier" and "later". What is he
referring to? Why does he think that it will be very difficult to defend himself against the earlier
accusers?
3. What are the formal accusations that have been brought against Socrates at his trial (by Meletus,
Anytus and Lycon, i.e. the "later accusers")? What are some of the defenses Socrates presents? How
does Socrates refute Meletus' responses?
4. How does Socrates distinguish himself from the Sophists?
5. Socrates says that the god (Apollo) ordered him to "live the life of a philosopher" (29c-d), and that this
sort of life is one "in service to the god" (29d-30b, 36b-c). What does such a life entail? How might
what is said here about the philosophical life help clarify the nature of "piety" as discussed in
Euthyphro?
6. Which three classes of people did Socrates question? What, in each case, was the result?
7. What conclusion does Socrates draw from his investigations? How is Socrates wise? In what regard
does Socrates consider himself to be ignorant? How is this to be contrasted with the "most
blameworthy" sort of ignorance Socrates describes at 29b?
8. What's more important than life or death to Socrates? Why? What are some of Socrates' thoughts on
death? (see 28b-30b, 39b, and 40c-41d)
9. Socrates claims throughout to be concerned for the "best possible state of [the} souls" of his fellow
citizens. (e.g. 29d-30b, see also 36c-d) Show how this is consistent with his daily practice in the
streets of Athens.
10. What does Socrates mean by saying that he's useful to the city the way a gadfly is to a horse (30e)?
11. What is Socrates' voice? When does he hear it? (31c-32a and 40a-c)
12. Why does Socrates say that, "The unexamined life is not worth living" (38a)? What do you think he
means? Do you agree? How do you go about "examining" your life? How has Socrates attempted to
do this?
13. Why does Socrates refuse to use the traditional "appeal to pity"? See particularly 35c.
14. Do you think that the citizens of Athens arrived at a just verdict?
15. What penalty does Socrates first suggest? Why? Why does Socrates resist exile as a penalty? What
does he mean when he says that, "The Olympian victor makes you think yourself happy; I make you
be happy"? (36e) What exactly is the difference?
16. Is Socrates correct in asserting that society needs the critical inquiry of philosophy in order to shake it
out of its complacency? Do you think that our society today is in need of some sort of critical selfexamination?

17. What does Socrates mean when he says that "a good man cannot be harmed either in life or in death"
(41c-d see also 30c)? Do you agree?
Crito
1. Crito argues that the opinion of the many has the capacity to do great harm, as witnessed by the
decision of the Athenians to put Socrates to death. Socrates disagrees that the opinion of the many has the
power to do any real harm (or any real good for that matter). Why? Explain his reasoning.
2. Socrates makes a comparison between the effect of the opinions of the many vs. that of the expert on
the health of the body and analogously on the health of the soul. Explain.
3. Socrates holds that "we must value most not living, but living well." Do you agree?
4. Given that doing wrong is "evil and ugly for the doer in every way", Socrates concludes that it is never
right to do wrong, or do evil to anyone in the world-- even in return for wrong done. "...it is never right
to do any injustice, or to do injustice in return, or, when one is evilly treated, to defend oneself by doing
evil in return..." He also says that very few people believe this to be true. What do you think? Do you
agree or disagree here? What is Socrates' argument for his position?
5. What are some of the reason's Crito gives for urging Socrates to escape?
6. How does Socrates argue that it would be unjust to attempt to escape? Outline his argument.
7. Why must he obey the Laws? What exactly does he mean by "the Laws"? Is it just the written legal
code he has in mind here?
8. Do you think it is ever just to break the law? If so, under what circumstances? (e.g. personal
exception, as an act of civil disobedience, etc.) Do you feel that it is incumbent on you to accept the legal
penalty for having broken the law?
9. Why does Socrates think that it would not be possible to live life as a philosopher in a badly governed
city?
Phaedo (Death Scene)
1. What are said to be the "ornaments" of the soul?
2. What harm, do you think, can it do the soul to "express oneself badly"?