Euthyphro dilemma

Euthyphro dilemma
The dilemma explored in Plato's dialogue Euthyphro . Are pious things pious because the gods love them, or do the gods love them because they are pious? The dilemma poses the question of whether value can be conceived as the upshot of the choice of any mind, even a divine one. On the first option the choice of the gods creates goodness and value. Even if this is intelligible it seems to make it impossible to praise the gods, for it is then vacuously true that they choose the good. On the second option we have to understand a source of value lying behind or beyond the will even of the gods, and by which they can be evaluated. The elegant solution of Aquinas is that the standard is formed by God's nature, and is therefore distinct from his will, but not distinct from him. The dilemma arises whatever the source of authority is supposed to be. Do we care about the good because it is good, or do we just call good those things that we care about? It also generalizes to affect our understanding of the authority of other things: mathematics, or necessary truth, for example. Are truths necessary because we deem them to be so, or do we deem them to be so because they are necessary?

Philosophy dictionary. . 2011.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Euthyphro dilemma — The Euthyphro dilemma is found in Plato s dialogue Euthyphro , in which Socrates asks Euthyphro: Is the pious () loved by the gods because it is pious, or is it pious because it is loved by the gods? (10a)In monotheistic terms, this is usually… …   Wikipedia

  • Euthyphro dilemma —    see dilemma, Euthyphro …   Christian Philosophy

  • Euthyphro — is one of Plato s early dialogues, dated to after 399 BCE. It features Ancient Greek philosopher Socrates and Euthyphro, a man known for being a religious expert. They attempt to pinpoint a definition for piety.BackgroundThe dialogue is set near… …   Wikipedia

  • dilemma, Euthyphro —    The Euthyphro dilemma is the question, classically posed by Plato in his dialogue the Euthyphro, concerning the relative priority of God s will and moral properties. For example, are actions morally right because God commands them, or does God …   Christian Philosophy

  • dilemma — The simplest form of a dilemma is an argument of the form: ‘If p then q, if not p then q, so in any event q .’ More complex forms were traditionally distinguished. A constructive dilemma is of the form: ‘If p then r, if q then r, but either p or… …   Philosophy dictionary

  • Euthyphron-Dilemma — Das Euthyphron Dilemma geht auf Platons Dialog Euthyphron zurück und hat den Anspruch zu zeigen, dass eine Bestimmung dessen, was als fromm bzw. allgemeiner als moralisch gut gilt, nicht im Rückgriff auf einen Gott erfolgen könne. Im Dialog fragt …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Dilemme d'Euthyphron — Le dilemme d Euthyphron se trouve exposé dans le dialogue de Platon nommé Euthyphron, dans lequel Socrate demande à Euthyphron : « Le saint (τὸ ὅσιον) est il aimé des dieux parce qu il est saint, ou est il saint parce qu il est aimé des …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Argument from morality — The argument from morality is one of many arguments for the existence of God. It comes in different forms, all aiming to support the claim that God exists with observations about morality. Its counterpoint is generally the Problem of evil.… …   Wikipedia

  • Monotheism — Monotheist redirects here. For the Celtic Frost album, see Monotheist (album). Part of a series on God …   Wikipedia

  • Problem of evil — Part of a series on God General conceptions …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”