Socrates believed that defining which of the actions taken by man are good, and which are not, provides man with the definition of piety and impiety. Aristotle also felt that "every action and choice, seem to aim at some good; the good, therefore, has been well defined as that at which all things aim."(Aristotle, 1094a)
Socrates also presents a defense for his actions by asking Euthyphro whether the holy acts that man complete make the gods any better. Euthyphro immediately states no, no, that's not what I mean.
By presenting this defense, Socrates seems to be saying that he is not attempting to blaspheme god, or the gods in any way, instead he is learning what it takes to make himself a better man.
In the end Socrates demonstrates that not even the theologian can provide with certainty what defines piety or impiety. He thereby provides himself a defense against the charge of impiety (not that it helped him all that much).
Idea flow chart
Socrates initially presents Euthyphro as a pious man, a theologian who would persecute his own father for murder. At the same time, Socrates is establishing the fact that he himself is considered a neologian (an individual who believes much differently than most of the other individuals in a particular society). From there Socrates shows that he is most interested in what he can do to become a pious individual. He attempts to ascertain what it is that makes a man pious or impious.
He asks of Euthyphro whether he believes that the gods "fought with one another, and had dire quarrels, battles and the like" to which Euthyphro replies that of course they do. Does that make the gods impious? Of course not, they are gods. Euthyphro then tries to explain that piety is 'that which is dear to the gods' while impiety means it is not dear to them. Socrates does not accept this explanation asking Euthyphro, 'a thing is not seen because it is visible, but conversely, visible because it is seen'. This line of reasoning throws Euthyphro off-track.
Socrates then leads Euthyphro further down the line as he provides him with another definition telling Euthyphro...
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