The third attempt to define piety presented in Plato’s Euthyphro proposes that it is that which is agreeable to all the gods. In other words, an action is considered righteous if and only if every deity approves of it. Conversely, actions that are universally disliked by the gods are deemed impious. This definition shifts the focus from specific acts of religious observance to a standard based on divine consensus. For example, if all the gods agree that punishing a wrongdoer, even a family member, is just, then such an action would be considered pious under this definition.
This proposal is significant because it attempts to ground morality in a universally accepted authority the gods. The benefit, at least superficially, is the establishment of an objective standard for ethical behavior. Historically, this type of justification was common, seeking to legitimize societal norms and laws through divine sanction. However, it also raises several profound questions regarding the nature of the divine and its relationship to morality, setting the stage for the famous “Euthyphro dilemma”.
