Plato(introduction,Euthyphro, Apology)

Running Head : Euthyphro and Apology

A Closer Examination of the Truth : The Socratic Method

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Plato 's Euthyphro and Apology

Plato 's dialogues , involving his own version of his old mentor Socrates , the Apology and Euthyphro , espouse one of the famous methods of philosophic inquiry , the Socratic Method . This dialectical method of questioning basically asks a question to answer another question . Thus the flow of inquiry is somehow continuous in nature , that the method of question is a universal method in acquiring certain

truths and knowledge . This is evident in Socrates ' main ideal in life - that every person , including himself , knows nothing . That is why to question is the ideal method in creating an understanding of what real knowledge is . In the Apology , it narrates the famous prosecution of Socrates who was branded by Athenian society as a nosy busybody who `nags ' people into proper self-examination and inquiry . To question is to know . However the citizens chide Socrates ' proposition and the citizens of Athens choose to lead a life of ignorance rather than a well-examined life . In Euthyphro , Socrates helps a man named Euthryphro , a self-proclaimed religious expert , in organizing his own illogical religious views by employing the Socratic Method and refining his arguments

Socrates ' reputation came from a prophecy from the Oracle made at Delphi , which proclaimed him as the wisest among men : he asked the oracle to tell him whether there was anyone wiser than I was , and the Pythian prophetess answered that there was no man wiser (Fowler 1914 21a . Yet , Socrates denies this claim by arguing that he always knows nothing : when I heard the answer , I said to myself , what can the god mean ? And what is the interpretation of this riddle ? For I know that I have no wisdom , small or great (Folwer , 1914 , 21c ) [my] investigation has led to my having many enemies of the worst and most dangerous kind , and has given occasion also to many calumnies , and I am called wise , for my hearers always imagine that I myself possess the wisdom which I find wanting in others (Fowler , 1914 , 23a

Apology or apologia in Greek is a defense speech that provides the dialogue its title . Socrates is convicted of legal charges of creating false gods and corrupting the minds of the youth apart from the usual accusations of being a busybody . He thus employs the Elenchus or Socratic method in his speech to counter-argue against his accusers . He implies in his speech that he will not employ the rhetoric methods but rather , he urges his accusers to judge him not by his words but by the truth

In Euthyphro , the Socratic Method is evident in the following dialogue between Socrates and Euthyphro . Socrates meets Euthyphro in a courtyard before their respective trials . Euthyphro conveys to Socrates that he had set charges against his own father and argues that it was the right thing to do . He then relays his own perspective of what religious piety...