18 PLATO
b
c
d
e
SOCRATES: For I suppose that the skill that is concerned with horses is the art of
taking care of horses.
EUTHYPHRO: Yes.
SOCRATES: And not everyone understands the care of dogs, but only the huntsman.
EUTHYPHRO:True.
SOCRATES: For I suppose that the huntsman’s skill is the art of taking care of dogs.
EUTHYPHRO: Yes.
SOCRATES: And the herdsman’s skill is the art of taking care of cattle.
EUTHYPHRO: Certainly.
SOCRATES: And you say that piety and righteousness are taking care of the gods,
Euthyphro?
EUTHYPHRO: I do.
SOCRATES: Well, then, has not all care the same object? Is it not for the good and
benefit of that on which it is bestowed? For instance, you see that horses are benefited
and improved when they are cared for by the art which is concerned with them. Is it
not so?
EUTHYPHRO: Yes, I think so.
SOCRATES: And dogs are benefited and improved by the huntsman’s art, and cattle
by the herdsman’s, are they not? And the same is always true. Or do you think care is
ever meant to harm that which is cared for?
EUTHYPHRO: No, indeed; certainly not.
SOCRATES: But to benefit it?
EUTHYPHRO: Of course.
SOCRATES: Then is piety, which is our care for the gods, intended to benefit the
gods, or to improve them? Should you allow that you make any of the gods better when
you do a pious action?
EUTHYPHRO: No indeed; certainly not.
SOCRATES: No, I am quite sure that that is not your meaning, Euthyphro. It was for
that reason that I asked you what you meant by the careful attention which ought to be
paid to the gods. I thought that you did not mean that.
EUTHYPHRO: You were right, Socrates. I do not mean that.
SOCRATES: Good. Then what sort of attention to the gods will piety be?
EUTHYPHRO: The sort of attention, Socrates, slaves pay to their masters.
SOCRATES: I understand; then it is a kind of service to the gods?
EUTHYPHRO: Certainly.
SOCRATES: Can you tell me what result the art which serves a doctor serves to
produce? Is it not health?
EUTHYPHRO: Yes.
SOCRATES: And what result does the art which serves a ship-wright serve to produce?
EUTHYPHRO: A ship, of course, Socrates.
SOCRATES: The result of the art which serves a builder is a house, is it not?
EUTHYPHRO: Yes.
SOCRATES: Then tell me, my good friend: What result will the art which serves the
gods serve to produce? You must know, seeing that you say that you know more about
divine things than any other man.
EUTHYPHRO: Well, that is true, Socrates.
SOCRATES: Then tell me, I beg you, what is that grand result which the gods use
our services to produce?
EUTHYPHRO: There are many notable results, Socrates.