GOD (B) The godly is godly because it is loved by the gods since ‘godly’ was introduced as a synonym for ‘loved by the gods’ So Socrates claims to have reduced Euthyphro to inconsistency, and urges him to give up the claim that holiness is what the gods love (10a–11b) However, there is no real inconsistency between A and B: ‘because’ is used in two diVerent senses in the two theses In (A) it introduces the gods’ motive; in (B) it recalls our stipulation about meaning A parallel point can be made in English by pointing out that it is true both that (C) A judge judges because he is a judge (i.e he does it because it is his job); and also that (D) A judge is a judge because he judges (that is why he is called a judge) Euthyphro, however, gives up his proposed deWnition and oVers another: holiness is justice in the service of the gods This too is shot down: what service can we render the gods? Socrates mocks at the idea of sacriWce as a form of trading with the gods when we have nothing worthwhile to oVer them in exchange for the favours we ask them (14e–15a) If Plato’s Euthyphro gives a realistic picture of Socrates’ methods of cross-examination, we can understand why religious folk in Athens might regard him as a purveyor of impiety and a danger to the young Another Socratic dialogue (this time probably not by Plato), Second Alcibiades, contains a deXationary discussion of the practice of prayer When we pray for something that we want, we may be asking for something that will harm us: an answer to prayer may be a disaster Since we lack the knowledge of what is best for us, it is better not to ask for anything; or, like the Spartans, simply to pray for what is good and noble, without specifying further (148c) In terms of sacriWce and worship the Athenians are far more religious than the Spartans, and yet the Spartans always come oV better in battle Is this surprising? ‘It would be a strange and sorry thing if the gods took more account of our gifts and sacriWces than of our souls and whether there is holiness and justice to be found in them’ (150a) 292