Due to the abrupt ending in Euthyphro, I couldn’t help but question the motivation behind Socrates’ preferred methods of engagement. Why does Socrates subject Euthyphro to seemingly endless questioning? Why does Socrates allow the discussion to end without reaching a concise answer? Is a concise answer to the questions Socrates is asking the purpose of the dialogue?
Socrates appears to engage Euthyphro in the dialogue with the purpose of educating and answering the question: “What is the pious, and what the impious?”. Yet, Socrates is satisfied with the dialogue despite not reaching a clear answer. It is important to recognize the fact that Socrates does not appear to be completely satisfied with any of Euthyphro’s responses. If Euthyphro answers a simple question, Socrates quickly responds with another question based on the implications of Euthyphro’s original response. Thus, I can understand why individuals are quick to label Socrates as irritating or condescending in reference to accepting a response as a tolerable answer. That being said, I believe Socrates desires to engage in dialogue as a means of educating individuals on the limits of complacency as it pertains to our set of beliefs and education.
The discourse that occurs in public between Socrates and Euthyphro emphasizes the equally important concept that inquiry should be a frequent occurrence within the mind of the individual. Continuing to challenge your beliefs through internal dialogue and questioning ensures that your beliefs are in a constant state of redefinition, updating and improving as new information is presented. The process of self improvement and personal development is not an easy task. To begin, one must be comfortable with not having the answers to a multitude of questions. I have personally found that often ignorance or lack of knowledge on a subject is difficult to admit to others, but it is even more challenging to admit my flaws to myself. Furthermore, while admitting the possibility of equally valid and possibly more valid beliefs is just the start, the process of education necessarily demands internal conflict. Conscious personal growth is exhausting; I believe that Socrates’ diction and relatively passive argumentative approach within the dialogue is representative of the natural irritations and opposition associated with self betterment. In the end, I do not believe that Euthyphro, or anyone, could have presented Socrates with a response that was satisfactory in answering his original question. Socrates remains content without coming to a consensus because his views on education require relentless opposition, such that an agreed answer must not have been analyzed through a complete spectrum of perspectives and would thus represent educational complacency.
To turn my attention to Book 1 of The Republic, I was particularly intrigued by an exchange between Thrasymachus and Socrates. Thrasymachus raises the question, “What if I show you another answer about justice, one that is different from all these and better than any of them? What penalty would you deserve then?”, to which Socrates states, “The very one that is appropriate for someone who does not know- what else? And what is appropriate is to learn from the one who does know. That, therefore, is what I deserve to suffer” (Pg. 14). The dialogue begins as Thrasymachus seems to believe he has caught Socrates in a question that will be difficult to answer, leading to possible implied public humiliation of Socrates. However, the sarcastic overtone Socrates uses when referencing lack of knowledge and the educational process as a form of suffering is indicative of Socrates’ outlook on the playful nature of learning. For this reason, as a reader, I found Socrates to be a very engaging and vulnerable in admitting his own possible lack of knowledge. Ultimately, I believe engaging with the character of Socrates aligns with Socrates’ ultimate goal to teach individuals to enjoy constructive internal and external dialogue. Thoughts?
-Patrick Thomas
pthomasoutofthecave 
Hi Patrick,
I think you provided a very good interpretation of the both the Socratic method and Socrates’ mantra of “not really knowing anything.” Some of my most difficult, but ultimately most rewarding learning experiences involve admitting the limits of my own knowledge and recognizing that I know very little in relation to what I should know. I think that our own ego has difficulties admitting to our own vulnerabilities and recognize that we have asymmetric information relative to nature as a whole. I think the quote that you provided by Socrates on what punishment is just makes a lot of sense and really resonates with me. I have found that seeking advice and information from people who know more than you in a particular area can be the most efficient way of gaining a better understanding of what you don’t know. I have found that some people take blind opinions and flaunt them around without realizing that they know very little about the underlying subject. This is why I always make it a point not only to read on the subject, but also talk to people who definitely know more than me. As you mentioned, personal growth is a fundamental part of education and one of the key steps of personal growth is admitting your limitations and shortcomings before trying to really gain access to all the knowledge existing in the world.
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