Without being aware of it, we have been drawn into the Socratic method. A
chance meeting between Euthyphro and
Socrates has led to a discussion about the necessity
of acting in a "holy" (i.e. pious) manner. To
Socrates' way of thinking, one must know the
definition of "piety" before one can act that way! Consequently, he begins
the dialogue by inquiring into the very nature of piety, itself. As you will
see, Euthyphro, like so many interlocutors in
other dialogues, does not define the object in question but merely gives
an example!