Plato's Euthyphro - Which comes first: God or Morality?

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This lecture explains the central argument that Plato is making, in the voice of Socrates, in the dialogue, Euthyphro. The central question of the dialogue is: what is virtue? The word 'virtue' is used synonymously with the word 'piety'. We can also understand the central argument as applying to what today we would call ethics or morality. Socrates asks what makes the virtuous acts virtuous. Euthyphro answers that those acts are loved by the gods. (We can understand this whole argument as applying equally well to monotheism with a single God.) But Socrates then asks a question about the order of explanatory priority: are virtuous acts virtuous because they are beloved by the gods, or are they beloved by the gods because they are virtuous? In the dialogue, Plato only considers one of the possible answers, but in this video lecture I discuss both. This is part of an introductory level philosophy course, Introduction to Ethics.

[edelciocoutojr]

Can't stop thinking how it should be to meet Socrates back then... "Socrates, dude, I'm just trying to buy some olives, give me a break..."

[chrislevesque]

l couldnt get through 3 minutes of my professors pre recorded lecture on this topic. The quality of this video is so high. The effort, energy, clarity, speaking ability, and the actual ability to teach the information in this video exceeds the accredited content I payed for by 100x. Thank you for caring about what you talk about and doing it so well.

[bikaskumarkundu]

"Are you the strongest because you are Gojo Satoru or are you Gojo Satoru because you are the strongest?"

[tomcubit]

Absolutely love your videos!!! I’m 55 years old and will be starting my philosophy degree in January!! Thanks for the inspiration!

[brianmacker]

We don't actually learn the meanings of most words by being given definitions. No one told me the definition of chair vs table as a child. I was just exposed to examples of them and then my own brain had to categorize them by noticing differences and similarities between objects in the categories.

[codegeek]

You explain the topics in a CRUSHINGLY simple way. Anyone could understand these videos easily. Thanks for the uploads!

[K_F_fox]

The Euthyphro dilemma feels like morality equivalent to the Set of All Sets That Aren't Part Of Other Sets. It just has that same Lovecraftian "ontological horror" vibe to it. Absolutely my favorite Platonic Dialog.

[mishtaromaniello]

I love the tiny coincidental detail that he didn’t completely erase the question mark at the far right of the screen before he walks off. There are questions that will always need to be solved.

[jerrebrasfield]

I love how the various dictionaries define piety as being pious or dedicated. Circular definitions are the best.

[rationalityrules]

Fantastic lecture, Professor, much appreciated.

[kokokokow]

It seems to me like Socrates just wanted to show Euthypro, why he's wrong without provocation. That's why he followed along with his answers, even if they were obviously wrong. He wanted him to realize it without portraying him like being shallow thinker.

I've heard this is a negotiation tactic used to deescalate a tense situation. Leaving the opponent room to retreat, or make it appear like he came up with the solution/realization on his own in this case.

[jasonroberts]

Lets just take a minute to appreciate the quality of this

[what]

The way you write backwards so we can read it, absolute madness! it must feel cool. High quality, good video!

[sethdaniell]

The casual shade he throws at Locke at the end because Plato wound up at the same place 2000 years earlier is fantastic

[dmasterofnone]

Am I the only one who appreciates his backward writing skill?



Edit: Can't believe people are still actively replying to this even a year later lol... And yes I know the video was flipped/mirrored...

... Or is it?

[leftybassist]

Jeffrey's half-assed scientific statements in the examples he uses in all of his videos are my absolute favorite. He ends everything with "... or whatever" or "... I don’t know!" And then moves on with his real point.

[eddiebevans]

Wow…. since I could speak I’ve always thought in circles like this never really tried to put the thoughts to words until my 20’s. My friends and family get tired of listening to me try to get to the bottom of broad ideas they just give up. I usually listen in conversations and talk to myself later. When I’m able to I will sit for hours and contemplate all kinds of actions or emotions. I try to figure out a decent answer knowing I’ll have more solutions later when I experience more. That excites me like nothing else. I’m 31 years old and just getting into Philosophy (I had no idea what the word even meant until a few months ago) I did not goto college by choice but now I wish I went to learn about these philosophers. I might be further along with my answers and I’d have people to actually talk with me about what everything is, why it is etc.
I wanted to share because I know I’m not the only one. Hit me up if you want to discuss any of your ideas I’m used to listening. I truly appreciate different perspectives.

[alexavaneysan]

19:50 that was unexpected lmao, but exactly what I thought. Thank you so much for your content, it's just amasing, I can't stop watching these vids

[gotblueslistentojazzvinyl]

I’m really enjoying your videos and I’m far from an academic, at 22mins i started to write you a comment in my head, about the use of the word love, and you didn’t disappoint me by mentioning the fact love can mean anything, i often tell people this, it confuses most people, i further explain that respect is quite possibly the most important thing, and also the least likely to mean something else, because if you respect someone, it has nothing to do with you, and everything to do with the person you are respecting

[IvanFyodorovichKaramazov]

I’m not even a philosophy student and I still loved this.