Euthyphro's Dilemma

One day I was scrolling YouTube and I found this video titled Plato’s Euthyphro. It was about the dialogue between Socrates and Euthyphro about morality. It really changed my perspective to look at life from then. I guess that was the dialogue which built my interest in philosophy.

Well, the dialogue revolves around the idea of morality. Whether or not it exists independently.

So, Socrates was prosecuted because he was corrupting the youths and did not believe in the traditional gods. While he was on his way to court, he sees Euthyphro who is there to prosecute his own father.

Socrates sees this as a very bold move to prosecute one’s own father. Euthyphro being very clear on morality, made Socrates curious.

And Socrates questions Euthyphro about piety. The dialogue between them goes on to the point where Euthyphro ponders upon a question asked by Socrates-

Is something good because the gods love it, or do the gods love it because it is good?

And Euthyphro seems to have no valid answer and leaves form there.

Let’s consider both the possibilities:

Morality is whatever the gods decide

If things fall into the category of goodness just because the gods love that thing, then morality becomes arbitrary. The gods may favor cruel things. In fact, there are disagreements between the gods themselves about a certain thing.

One God may like an act but the same act may not be favored my other god. There are many stories about gods fighting with each other in most of the traditions.

Zeus and Prometheus

In Greek mythology, the story of Zeus and Prometheus resonates the same dilemma.

The background

Prometheus was a titan known for his intelligence and compassion for humans. He fought a battle with Zeus where they defeated the previous titans and Zeus became the god of gods. Zeus wanted all the humans to be dependent on him, to worship him. He wanted them to remain weak. But Prometheus believed that humans have the potential to rise above. He believed that the humans deserved the knowledge and progress.

Therefore, Prometheus stole the fire from Olympus and gave it to humans. Now fire here symbolizes knowledge and independence. But Zeus did not like this act for he thought that humans would not need to dependent on him anymore. They wouldn’t pray or worship him. He feared that they might challenge the divine authority.

Thus, Zeus punished Prometheus and chained him to a rock. He sent a Pandora's box which carried suffering, diseases and death upon mankind in it.

Was Prometheus’s act immoral or was Zeus wrong because he punished a good act?

Zeus punished Prometheus, the act must be wrong according to Zeus. But Prometheus’s compassion for humans was morally good even if the god doesn’t favor it.

God loves it because it is good

When an act is loved by the god because the act itself is good, then it means that the goodness is independent of gods will. It exists independently.

How the philosophers responded to this dilemma

(Divine Nature Theory/ Euthyphro Solution)

Many theists and modern philosophers argued that this is a false dilemma.

To consider that the god would favor cruel acts is vague. Morality is neither arbitrary nor independent of God. It is not external from God rather it flows from his very essence. The divine is all perfect and complete. All the virtues are not separate from the divine. It is an aspect of God.

The very act of morality is godly.

How it shapes religion

Euthyphro’s solution is very a good answer to the dilemma but in reality, there are many religions across the world, each bearing their own faith. More than one version of God. And therefore, conflicting beliefs and practices.

What is considered virtuous in one religion may not be considered the same in another. For instance, consuming meat, alcohol, etc. Religious rituals give a sense of moral direction, but do we carry out these acts only because the god commands it?

People perform the act of donations or feed the poor because the prophets have told to do so, these acts are dear to God and performing them means that you are pleasing the god and you would accumulate good deeds. People feed the cows on specific days on the instruction of their astrologer because that would mitigate the negative influences of planets. They are not concerned about the cow but themselves.

In all these actions, God is at the center. The self is at the center. All we are doing is just walking blindly on what we have been told, we do these religious customs because it assures us security. It assures us a ticket in heaven or liberation. Are we truly compassionate when we donate? Or do we simply seek blessings in return. If nobody would’ve told us in the past that these acts were moral–if the prophets hadn’t declared them as righteous–what number of people would have compelled to do them?

Many religious teachings emphasize compassion, generosity, charity. But when we perform these virtues to avoid punishments or gain divine favor or accumulate good karma, have we really understood the teachings of the prophet; teachings of the religion? Or are we walking blindly on the path?

Perhaps the deeper question posed is not whether the morality comes from the god, but whether we are capable of moral reasoning on our own without divine interference. Can we be good for the innate quality of goodness itself, not because we are told to so.