Abstract
The aim of this article is to explore the significance of Socrates' philanthropy for the concept of piety sought in Plato's Euthyphro. First, I briefly sketch Socrates' self-ascribed philanthropy in contrast with Euthyphro's unreflecting envy. I then propose a cosmological interpretation of Plato's approach to piety, according to which piety lies in just service to gods as they produce their "all-beautiful" work, which turns out to be the beautiful universe as a whole. Finally, it is attempted to link this cosmological concept of piety to Socrates' philanthropy, whereby Socrates' philosophical care for others reveals his likeness to the benevolent God in Plato's Timaeus.
| Translated title of the contribution | Philanthropy and piety in Plato's Euthyphron |
|---|---|
| Original language | German |
| Pages (from-to) | 115-130 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | Archiv fur Geschichte der Philosophie |
| Volume | 90 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 2008 |