Throughout the Discourses, Epictetus referred in reverential tones to Socrates. Socrates dedicated his entire life in helping everyone he met to lead a more virtuous life. Socrates lived what he preached up until his last breath. The EUTHYPHRO is the first of four dialogues dealing with the trial and death of Socrates.

Socrates comes to the courthouse to attend to some preliminaries of his trial on the charge of impiety and corrupting the youth. Here he meets Euthyphro, who is bringing a charge of manslaughter against his father, on account of the death from exposure of a servant who is himself a murderer. Euthyphro says that he is bringing the charge in the interest of piety, proper religious observances and the will of the gods. It is this claim which leads to the discussion of the nature of piety, or holiness, the chief theme of the dialogue.

The purpose of the dialogue is in part to teach correct methods of thinking. Instructions in methods of thinking may seem needless to modern readers, but the reality is insights into the correct methods of thinking is as important now as it was during the time of Plato. The instructions on thinking play an important part in most of Plato's dialogues.

EUTHYPHRO is one part of the Loeb Classical Library book named PLATO I EUTHYPHRO, APOLOGY, CRITO, PHAEDO, PHAEDRUS. It is available for around $20. The book was originally published in 1914 and was translated by the eminent scholar, Harold North Fowler. A wealthy American named James Loeb began in the early 1900's to commission the leading scholars of ancient Greek and Roman manuscripts to translate into English the classic writings. He had the brilliance to format the clothbound books with the original Greek and Latin writings on the left page with the translated English on the right page. With generous footnotes throughout you get the essence of the original writings. The Greek Classics are all hard bound in green with the Latin works in red. Mr. Loeb donated the Loeb Classical Library to Harvard College which has kept the books in print and has added to the collection.

The books are constructed using traditional high quality workmanship with only the finest acid-free paper and binding materials used. They easily fit in your jacket pocket or purse and will stand up to your repeated readings. By having the original Greek or Latin manuscripts always in front of you, it brings out a natural inquisitiveness and makes you wonder if you have the wherewithal to learn to read them in their original form.