Plato's Dialogue: The Euthyphro Dilemma

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The Euthyphro Dilemma comes from Plato’s Dialogue “Euthyphro”. This dilemma has had a major effect on Theism. The Euthyphro Dilemma is based off of the idea, is what is morally good commanded by God because it is morally good, or is it morally good because it is commanded by God? Each of these two possibilities leads to consequences that the divine command theorists cannot accept. However the divine command theorist answers this question, his answer in the end is defeated. This dilemma has been a major problem for some theists, while other theists have believed that the Euthyphro Dilemma is a false dilemma. The Euthyphro Dilemma date all the way back to after 399 B.C. and remains a significant dilemma to this day.

The Euthyphro Dilemma is a dilemma for Socrates. Socrates is trying to learn from Euthyphro to help him with his trial against Meletus. Euthyphro suggest that holiness is persecuting religious offenders. Socrates was not happy with this answer. Euthyphro suggest that what is holy is agreeable to the Gods. Socrates points out that often the Gods quarrel so what might be acceptable to one God is not acceptable to another God. The whole dilemma is caused by Socrates asking questions to Euthyphro …show more content…

How can we know what good is without defining it first? How Abraham responded when he found out Gods intention to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah gives us a hint. The question is asked, how Abraham knew that justice required God not to treat the wicked and righteousness alike. Abraham didn’t know anything of goodness, but used what was morally right to him. He did not need God to show him what was Justice, but he knew it directly with in himself what was morally right. The Euthyphro dilemma misinterprets the biblical view of God. Goodness is neither above nor below God, it is a characteristic within him that we base ethics off of. Christianity is not necessarily true, but it is assisted by Plato’s challenge to

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