Euthyphro

What is piety? Is it doing what the gods love, or is there a standard of goodness independent of divine approval? In this short dialogue, Plato stages a conversation between Socrates and Euthyphro outside the court of the King Archon in Athens. Socrates is about to face charges of impiety; Euthyphro is prosecuting his own father for murder and is confident he knows exactly what piety is. Socrates asks him to define it, and the discussion that follows examines several definitions, each of which collapses under questioning. The dialogue ends without a final answer, but it raises a question that still matters: is something good because God commands it, or does God command it because it is good?

This edition is designed for readers new to Plato and for book clubs. It includes the complete text of the Euthyphro in Benjamin Jowett's classic translation with Jowett's own introduction, a new introduction that sets the dialogue in its historical and philosophical context, a guide to key ideas and arguments, a summary of the conversation, a list of themes, a glossary of names and terms, and twelve discussion questions. Whether you are studying philosophy for the first time or revisiting a foundational text, this companion will help you follow Socrates' method and appreciate the enduring challenge of the Euthyphro.