Why does Socrates seek Euthyphro's advice on the nature of holiness? ?

What conclusions are reached in the dialogue about holiness, does Socrates seem to be a moral relativist?Why does Socrates seek Euthyphro's advice on the nature of holiness? ?
maybe this was beyond his way of thinking and he hoped to get some inspiration or insights to add to his way of understanding.Why does Socrates seek Euthyphro's advice on the nature of holiness? ?
No... Socrates is not a moral relativist... his questioning might lead you to think that, but remember, his questions are merely a reflection of what people believe. So it is the people who are the ones with relativistic tendencies.





The dialogue you are referring to is a strong rebuttal of divine command theory - the theory that it is only through the command of a divine creator like the ';god'; postulate of Christians, Jews, Muslims and other miscellany, that there can be any objective basis to morality.





What they showed is that either morality is based on ';reason'; independent of god (assuming god actually did once exist!)... or that morality is based on arbitrary desires of what god wants.





Think of it this way:





A. If we identify morality with God鈥檚 command we have to face the possibility that God might have commanded us to torture the innocent. If this is correct then torturing is acceptable because God says so!





B. But genuine morality is not that arbitrary is it? if God has a ';reason'; for not torturing people then it is that ';reason'; that counts as the genuine morality.





C. But if this is so then morality is not based on God鈥檚 command but on the independent fact that torture is wrong based on that ';reason';.





So you people have a dilemma to resolve. Gods command is either arbitrary or based on a fact which provides a ';reason'; for the command. In which case either morality is arbitrary or there is an independent basis for morality??





You might also want to ask yourselves these questions:





1. Is something morally good because god desires it to be?


2. Or does god desire it because it is morally good?





1. Do you praise God because he is moral???


2. Or is God moral because you praise him???





1. We generally accept that torture is wrong but... Is it just because God says so (and you have faith in him)???


2. Or... Is it because God understands what morality is about (and you have faith in his ability to understand the reasons for morality)???