Plata - Euthyphro

The so-called ‘Euthyphro dilemma’ was to become of increasing importance in theology and philosophy, especially as the great monotheistic religions –Judaism, Christianity and Islam –developed over the next millennium. In these faiths, the plethora of gods of Greek and other pantheistic religions gave way to a single omnipotent Creator. This Creator was the source of goodness and value in the world. But, as the German philosopher Leibniz asked at the beginning of the eighteenth century, if it is the case that whatever God thinks, wants or does is good by definition, then ‘what cause could one have to praise him for what he does if in doing something quite different he would have done equally well?’ 5 If, on the other hand, God recognizes what is good and promotes it because of its inherent goodness, then goodness must exist independently of God. It might now make sense to revere God’s goodness but God is no longer the source of that goodness, nor do we need to look to God to discover that which is good.