Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Euthyphro does not seem to have any solid virtues or vices during his argument with Socrates. Using his method of questioning, Socrates causes Euthyphro to waver several times on his convictions. I believe that Euthyphro’s virtues and vices are one in the same. What some would call a good devotion to the gods since he was insistent that he must prosecute his father, others might call unmatched arrogance. I would tend to call this on the side of a vice since he is assuming to know what the gods want when he is nothing more than a mortal. Another virtue that could be portrayed as a vice is his need to teach others. It would seem like a good thing that he wants to help others understand the world and understand what is right and what is wrong. Yet again, it is a vice because he assumes to know better than the other citizens about the goings-on between gods. While Eutyphro becomes humbled by the end of his debate with Socrates, he still does not start to realize that he might not have all the answers, which is one of the points of Socrates’ argument. This is a severe vice of Euthyphro that cripples any of his virtues that he might have. Upon closer examination, most of the virtues in Euthyphro’s argument come back to his one vice of arrogance. When he presumes to know what the gods want, it would seem like good conviction, but it is truly arrogant to make such an assumption. When he presumes to have a definition and answer to all of Socrates’ questions, it would seem like having a clear idea of his morals. However, upon closer examination, it appears that his ego surpasses his good traits every time.

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