Many of my students seem to think Socrates' questioning frivolous, that, like the Sophists, he is simply playing with words. Do you think that's what he is doing in this dialogue? Is he simply trying to make a fool of Euthyphro? Or is there a purpose in this conversation? You might note what Euthyprho is about to do when Socrates interupts him, and note what practical problems Socrates himself faces. Any connections to the subject of this dialogue?
Monday, March 10, 2008
Euthyphro
Many of my students seem to think Socrates' questioning frivolous, that, like the Sophists, he is simply playing with words. Do you think that's what he is doing in this dialogue? Is he simply trying to make a fool of Euthyphro? Or is there a purpose in this conversation? You might note what Euthyprho is about to do when Socrates interupts him, and note what practical problems Socrates himself faces. Any connections to the subject of this dialogue?
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11 comments:
I think Socrates’ questioning is sensible and philosophical to the core, however I believe he questioned life to encourage and promote thinking to make sense of things; I do think in his dialogue he used the sophists’ means of questioning, but he accepted no money for it. I believe Socrates thinks of Euthyphro maybe not quite as outspoken as Socrates himself, but respects him none the less.
Megan Marvel
I do not think that Socrates is trying to make Euthyphro look foolish although, on the surface that is what he appears to be doing. Socrates seems to have a couple of goals in his questioning. First, the simplest goal is for him to get a further definition of the words, such as pious and impious, so that he can better understand them. Second, he appears to be trying to understand why Euthyphro is charging his father with murder and maybe show Euthyphro that prosecuting his father because he believes that is the "pious" thing to do is not really a valid reason because he shows that things can be pious and impious at the same time, at least according to Euthyphro's definition. Finally, Socrates also seems to be questioning Euthyphro so that he himself can better understand why he is being prosecuted and what these words mean so that he can avoid doing things that are considered impious by others, namely his accusers. It seems like Socrates goal in questioning Euthyphro and others is not to make fools of them, but to better understand things and help them to better understand things as well.
Jessica Phelps
I dont feel that Ssophists is trying to make a fool of Euthypho. It may just look that way because he is charging his father in court. I also think that he is confused of why his father is in court becasue he does not believe the sames things that Euthypho believes. Socrates has a hard time in order to recognize old gods but yet he can create new gods. He may also be confused because what is pious to some gods might not be to other gods.
I don't think Socrates is purposely trying to make Euthyphro look like a fool, but without trying to he does a pretty good job. I think Socrates is mainly just trying to get the answers that he wants to hear, and to do that, he ends up making Euthyphro confused. At this point Socrates explains his point of view and that way both Euthyphro and Socrates understand everything alot better. Euthyphro understand what is pious really means and Socrates understand why he is being charged.
I forgot my name! :)
Samantha Gacke
I dont feel socrates is making a fool of Euthyphro. Socrates has alot of questions that he wants anwsered. He wants to know how God makes good. Socrates feel God loves or commands the good. I feel socrates is confused because not everyone believes in the same things he does,for example when he talks about his religion and his beliefs.
Kody Thompson
Socrates is being indicted for corrupting the young minds and Euthyphro is prosecuting his father for killing a man. The question of impious comes up and Socrates wants Euthyphro to explain it to him. It would seem throughout the conversation that Socrates is really messing with Euthyphro and making him work for his explanation. But as I continued to read I realized Euthyphro was more or less contridicting himself everytime he explained something. Socrates quickly saw this and wanted an explanation. It would seem in the end that Socrates just wanted a straight answer and never got one.
I think that the way Socrates is talking is purposeful. He is getting the answers from Euthyphro that he wants in order to make his next point. I also do not think that he is making a fool of Euthyphro even though it may come off that way. They certainly do not believe in the same things. Socrates is trying to get his point of view across to Euthyphro and trying to get him to see the way he thinks. Socrates hardly gives Euthyphro a chance to think and he is already coming in with a new idea. Both of are friends and get along but it is alright to see others point of view.
Jenny Melland
I feel as though socrates is not intentionally trying to make a fool of Euthyphro. I believe that Socrates has a lot of unanswered questions that he is seeking the answer for. I believe that Socrates has a very different view on things that is quite different than others' views. I believe that all in all, Socrates is confused.
Ashley Tanner
I don't think Socrates was trying to make fun of Euthyphro. He just has a different view on things than other people do; he goes against the norm. He just wants to figure out why he is being prosecuted. He just wants to question him so he can get a better understanding of him.
Natasha Doxsee
I do not think that Socrates is trying to make Euthyphro look foolish although that is the way it appears in the reading. I believe that he questioned life to encourage thinking to others, although he did use sophists' means of queestioning though.I still believe that Socrates thinks of Euthyphro as not quite as outspoken as himself, but he still respects him.
-Rick Schiley-
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