Philosophy Lecture: Plato's Euthyphro and Republic

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts from Plato's Euthyphro and Republic, focusing on piety, the structure of the soul, and the progression of political regimes.

Piety

In Plato's Euthyphro, piety is defined as prosecuting wrongdoing, but Socrates argues this is just an example, not a definition.

Divine Command Theory

The second definition of piety involves what is loved by the gods, which Socrates rejects because gods can disagree on what is loved.

Dilemma of Euthyphro

The dilemma raised by Socrates about whether something is pious because the gods love it or loved by the gods because it is pious.

Function Argument

Plato's argument that everything, including the soul, has a function; its excellence and happiness arise from performing this function well.

Just Soul

In Plato's philosophy, a just soul consists of three aspects: reason, spirit, and appetite, with justice occurring when reason rules.

Allegory of the Cave

A metaphor in The Republic illustrating the difference between the visible realm (illusions) and the intelligible realm (true knowledge).

Kallipolis

Plato's ideal city that declines through regimes—aristocracy, timocracy, oligarchy, democracy—leading to tyranny and chaos.