CHAPTER 5

THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF SOCRATES

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 The Phaedo (Death Scene)
• In philosophy, reading aloud often helps us to
better understand; read slowly

• In this selection of The Phaedo, Socrates is

preparing to die (Melchert 114 – 117)

• Try to get a sense of Socrates in these last

moments of his life

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 Reading Plato
• Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, and Phaedo
• Major figure = Socrates
• As accurate a picture of the historical Socrates as we
can find
• Hint: Read through all the dialogues
– Just get a sense of the dialogues
– Then go to commentary and questions in the text as you
reread
• We will begin work on reading the Euthyphro together
and then break into smaller groups . . .
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Euthyphro
WHO:
Euthyphro and Socrates
WHAT:
Conversation between the two
WHERE:
Near the king-archon’s court
WHEN:
Socrates is seventy; toward the
end of his life
WHY:
Miletus has indicted Socrates for
corrupting the youth of Athens
and for not believing in the gods
in whom the city believes
• Socrates claims to have a divine sign
(daemon)
• Socrates is eager to be Euthyphro’s
pupil
• Socrates is searching for a definition
of “the pious” (the holy, godly).
• Three requirements to satisfy
Socrates:
– A satisfactory answer will pick out some
feature that is the same in every pious
action.
– This feature will not be shared by any
impious action.
– It will be that feature (or the lack of it)
that makes an action pious (or impious).
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 Commentary and Questions
• Euthyphro 2a-5a (Whole class)
– Q1. Why does Socrates say that Meletus is likely to be wise? (2c)

– Q2. What sort of character does S. ascribe to M. here? Is S. sincere in

his praise of M.?

– Q3. There seem to be two charges against S. Can you identify them?
(2c, 3b)

– Q4. Why is E. in court?

– Q5. What does E. claim to know?

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 Commentary and Questions
• Euthyphro 5a-6e (Group 1)
– Q6. Why does S. say he wants E. to instruct him? Do you think he
really expects to be helped?

– Q7. Do you think this is going to be a serious inquiry? Or is S. having

some sport with E.?

– Q8. What does E. say piety is?

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 Commentary and Questions
• Euthyphro 5a-6e (Group 1)
– Q9. What does S. focus on as the likely reason he is on trial?

– Q10. What is S.’s objection to the definition E. has proposed?

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 Commentary and Questions
• Euthyphro 7a-9b (Group 2)
– Q11. What is E’s second answer?

– Q12. Why does S. exclaim, “Splendid?”

– Q13. What is the difference between answering “in the way” he

wanted and giving a “true” answer?

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 Commentary and Questions
• Euthyphro 7a-9b (Group 3)
– Q14. How does S. derive the conclusion (8a) that “the same things
then are loved by the gods and hated by the gods? Is this a correct
deduction from the statements E. previously agreed to?

– Q15. What further conclusion follows? Why is that disturbing?

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 Commentary and Questions
• Euthyphro 7a-9b (Group 3)
– Q16. What do people dispute about concerning wrongs and
penalties? And what not?

– Q17. Do you believe that S. has put E. in an untenable position

here?

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 Commentary and Questions
• Euthyphro 9c – 11d (Group 4)
– Q18. Is this a good argument? Suppose, in response to the
question, “Why do the gods love the pious?” one were to reply,
“They just do!” Is S. assuming that there must be a reason? Is he
assuming what he needs to prove? Think about this.

– Q19. Why is S. reminded of Daedalus here?

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 Commentary and Questions
• Euthyphro 11e – end (Group 5)
– Q20. What answer do the two settle on? Why?

– Q21. In what way are the fear/shame and odd/number distinctions

analogous?

– Q22. What are the two kinds of “care” that are distinguished? (13a-c
and 13d – e)

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 Commentary and Questions
• Euthyphro 11e – end (Group 5)
– Q23. Which kind of care is the relevant one? Why?

– Q25. What characteristic of S. do you think P. means to impress

upon us in S’ next-to-last speech?

– Q27. Has E. learned anything in the course of this discussion?

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 References

Melchert, N. (2014). The Great Conversation: A Historical Introduction

to Philosophy, 7th ed. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2014).

PHOTO CREDITS

• Martyr to Philosophy eljuegodefilosofar.blogspot.com (Cover)

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