Euthyphro’S Divine Moral Dilemma
“There is nothing divine about morality; it is a purely human affair” (Albert Einstein, circa. 1954). Einstein’s rigid views of morality echo Plato’s criticisms found in the dialogue Euthyphro (Moral Philosophy, Selected Readings: Second Edition). Plato speaking as his long-time mentor Socrates attempts to coerce a true definition of the word pious from the central character Euthyphro in order to help him better understand his predicament. The two men meet outside the king-archon’s court as they await hearings on varying grievances; Euthyphro is prosecuting his father on the grounds of allowing a man to die by his inaction, as Socrates is being indicted for making innovations in religious matters. Euthyphro recounts the events to Socrates noting that the victim was a worker employed by his father, one evening the man got intoxicated and “killed a household slave in a drunken anger” (Plato, 168). Euthyphro’s father proceeded to bind the man and throw him in a ditch,......
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