A S L 3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 36: Manichaeism, Dialectic, Discourse Analysis
Document Summary
There is some norm or standard by which we should measure our actions. A famous, classic attempt to search for the foundation of ethical standards can be found in plato"s dialogue euthyphro. The development of greek thought can be seen as a continuous attempt to escape from chaos". to which there is neither rhyme nor reason. Whoever wishes to escape from chaos in this sense should look for standards, or at least some rule of thumb. Unlike the earlier, more religion-oriented philosophers, the sophists (led by protagoras) found such a standard in man himself: man is the measure of all things. this thesis has become known as the homo mensura"-thesis. The dialogue entitled euthyphro is an example of how socrates attempts to uncover the essence of things. In this dialogue he is concerned with the essence that governs the relationship between children and parents, men and gods and so on, usually called piety" (or holiness").
