EUTHYPHRO by Plato

What is piety—and can we ever truly define it? In Euthyphro, one of Plato’s most famous and accessible dialogues, Socrates meets a self-assured priest outside the Athenian courthouse. As Socrates prepares to stand trial, he questions Euthyphro, who claims to know the exact nature of holiness and justice. What follows is a sharp and ironic exchange that exposes the difficulty of defining moral concepts with precision. Is something pious because the gods love it, or do the gods love it because it is pious? This single question—the Euthyphro dilemma—has echoed through centuries of theology and ethics. With its vivid characters and timeless philosophical puzzle, Euthyphro is a perfect entry point into Plato’s thought. It challenges readers to think critically about the foundations of morality, religion, and human reasoning.