Plato's Euthyphro

In Plato's Euthyphro: Socrates at Court Before His Trial, Plato presents one of the most famous and important conversations in the history of philosophy. Socrates has arrived at court because he has been accused of corrupting the young and rejecting the gods honored by Athens. There he meets Euthyphro, a man who claims to understand holiness so well that he is willing to prosecute his own father.

What follows is a sharp, clear, and powerful dialogue about holiness, justice, moral certainty, and the gods. Socrates asks Euthyphro a simple question: what is holiness? Euthyphro gives several answers, but each one is carefully examined by Socrates, who shows how difficult it is to define goodness, religious duty, and divine approval without confusion.

At the heart of the dialogue is one of philosophy's great questions: is something holy because the gods love it, or do the gods love it because it is holy? Through this question, Plato invites the reader to think deeply about morality, religion, authority, and whether true goodness depends on approval or has its own nature.

This edition presents Euthyphro in a modern English translation designed to be accurate, readable, and accessible. It is ideal for students, teachers, general readers, philosophy beginners, and anyone interested in Socrates, Plato, ancient Greek philosophy, ethics, religion, justice, or the foundations of moral thought.

Translated by Zak, this edition brings one of Plato's essential Socratic dialogues into clear modern English for readers today.