Study Questions
What is Socratic irony, and how does it function in the Euthyphro? Provide several specific examples where Socratic irony is evident.
What evidence is there for and against reading Plato's Theory of Forms into the Euthyphro? How would such a reading affect our understanding of the dialogue?
What is the distinction between the definition of holiness as what is agreeable to the gods and the definition as what is approved of by all the gods? Why does Euthyphro shift from the former to the latter?
Evaluate Plato's argument that what is holy and what is approved of by the gods are not the same thing. Is it convincing? Can you think of any arguments Euthyphro could have given in reply?
What is the most charitable way of reading Euthyphro's suggestion that holiness is a kind of service to the gods? What different ways are there of reading this suggestion and which do you think it the most defensible?
What is the final lesson that we are to draw from the Euthyphro? Why did Plato write it?
Is there a satisfactory definition of holiness? Do either Plato or Socrates think there is? What might this definition be?
