Single Idea 336

[catalogued under 28. God / A. Divine Nature / 6. Divine Morality / b. Euthyphro question]

Full Idea

Is what is pious loved by the gods because it is pious, or is it pious because they love it?

Gist of Idea

Is what is pious loved by the gods because it is pious, or is it pious because they love it? (the 'Euthyphro Question')

Source

Plato (Euthyphro [c.389 BCE], 10a)

Book Reference

Plato: 'The Last Days of Socrates', ed/tr. Tredennick,Hugh [Penguin 1969], p.31


A Reaction

The famous Euthyphro Question, the key question about the supposed religious basis of morality. The answer of Socrates is Idea 337.

Related Idea

Idea 337 It seems that the gods love things because they are pious, rather than making them pious by loving them [Plato]