Sokrates acts as the Expert himself: he finds authority in his own reason and conscience 436 CHAPTER XI Euthyphron. Situation supposed in the dialogue--interlocutors 437 Indictment by Melêtus against Sokrates--Antipathy of the Athenians towards those who spread heretical opinions 437 Euthyphron recounts that he is prosecuting an indictment for murder against his own father--Displeasure of his friends at the proceeding 438 Euthyphron expresses full confidence that this step of his is both required and warranted by piety or holiness. Sokrates asks him--What is Holiness? 439 Euthyphron alludes to the punishment of Uranus by his son Kronus and of Kronus by his son Zeus 440 Sokrates intimates his own hesitation in believing these stories of discord among the Gods. Euthyphron declares his full belief in them, as well as in many similar narratives, not in so much circulation _ib._ Bearing of this dialogue on the relative position of Sokrates and the Athenian public 441 Dramatic moral set forth by Aristophanes against Sokrates and the freethinkers, is here retorted by Plato against the orthodox champion 442 Sequel of the dialogue--Euthyphron gives a particular example as the reply to a general question 444 Such mistake frequent in dialectic discussion _ib._ First general answer given by Euthyphron--that which is pleasing to the Gods is holy. Comments of Sokrates thereon 445 To be loved by the Gods is not the essence of the Holy--they love it because it is holy. In what then does its essence consist? Perplexity of Euthyphron 446 Sokrates suggests a new answer. The Holy is one branch or variety of the Just. It is that branch which concerns ministration by men to the Gods 447 Ministration to the Gods? How? To what purpose? _ib._ Holiness--rectitude in sacrifice and prayer--right traffic between men and the Gods 448 This will not stand--the Gods gain nothing--they receive from men marks of honour and gratitude--they are pleased therewith--the Holy, therefore, must be that which is pleasing to the Gods 448 This is the same explanation which was before declared insufficient. A fresh explanation is required from Euthyphron. He breaks off the dialogue _ib._ Sokratic spirit of the dialogue--confessed ignorance applying the Elenchus to false persuasion of knowledge 449 The questions always difficult, often impossible to answer. Sokrates is unable to answer them, though he exposes the bad answers of others _ib._ Objections of Theopompus to the Platonic procedure 450 Objective view of Ethics, distinguished by Sokrates from the subjective 451 Subjective unanimity coincident with objective dissent _ib._ Cross-examination brought to bear upon this mental condition by Sokrates--position of Sokrates and Plato in regard to it 452 The Holy--it has an essential characteristic--what is this?--not the fact that it is loved by the Gods--this is true, but is not its constituent essence 454