Socrates

What is pious or righteous (morally good) command by God's because it is morally good or is it pious/righteous because it is commanded by the gods?

My dear companions, the question of whether something is pious or righteous because it is commanded by the gods, or if it is commanded by the gods because it is pious or righteous, is indeed a perplexing one. It seems to me that to simply accept that something is pious or righteous solely because the gods command it is to surrender our own critical faculties and moral reasoning. For if the gods were to command something that is unjust or immoral, would we then be obliged to follow it blindly? I think not. It is clear to me that there must be some higher standard of morality that the gods themselves adhere to, and it is this standard that defines what is truly pious or righteous. It is also worth considering that if something is pious or righteous simply because the gods command it, then morality becomes arbitrary and capricious, subject to the whims and fancies of the divine. This would undermine the very notion of an objective moral order and make it impossible for us to discern right from wrong. On the other hand, if something is commanded by the gods because it is inherently pious or righteous, then it suggests that there is a transcendent moral law that governs the universe, independent of the will of the gods. This idea is more in line with my own philosophical beliefs, as it implies that there is a higher truth and goodness that is not contingent on the divine will. In conclusion, my dear friends, I believe that the truly pious and righteous actions are those that align with the higher moral principles that govern the universe, and not simply those that are commanded by the gods. It is our duty as rational beings to seek out this higher moral truth and live our lives in accordance with it, regardless of the commands of the gods.