"Whose bias do y'all seek?" by Socrates (A Philosophy Discussion)

Discussion Post

Socrates raises the concern as to whether the love of the gods is a result of the piety itself or if the piety exists solely because of the love of the gods. Both Socrates and Euthyphro consider the first possibility: the gods must love the pious because they are the pious. Therefore, Socrates contends, we must reject the second possibility, as the love of the gods cannot account for the pious's piety (Cooper 77). Similarly, Jay-Z’s verse “Pious pious 'cause God loves pious? Socrates asks, "Whose bias do y'all seek?" All for Plato, screech” reflects on Socrates' doubts about piety and its relationship to divine sanction (Jay-Z & Kanye West 1:31-1:36). The idea that piety is intrinsically moral because the gods approve of it is refuted by Socrates. Jay-Z's allusion to Socrates' question, "Whose bias do y'all seek?" raises the possibility of a critical analysis of prejudices in defining what constitutes piety.  

In finding out if there is an objective or subjective standard for determining the morality of actions, I think that it is essential to examine the nature of morality itself first. The concept of objective morality holds that morality is universal and cannot be interpreted, implying that it exists apart from personal viewpoints (Kagan 2). When people study the commandments of their religion, some may think of objective morality; others may consider that the cosmos includes universal benevolence and other objective laws that people should abide by. On the other hand, if morality is seen as a human construct influenced by subjective perspectives, cultural norms, and personal beliefs, then the determination of right or wrong becomes subjective. According to this perspective, what one individual or group may regard as ethically correct may be viewed as incorrect by another (Kagan 4). As such, I think that we should consider Plato's Euthyphro dialogue and Jay-Z's verse when determining morality of actions. Their insights prompt us to consider the possibility of subjective biases influencing moral judgments. While Socrates suggests the difficulty in finding an objective standard for certain moral concepts, the subjective nature of morality remains a plausible interpretation. Thus, whether morality is deemed objective or subjective depends on one's philosophical stance and perspective on the nature of moral principles.  

Work Cited 

“Jay-Z & Kanye West - No Church in the Wild Ft. Frank Ocean, the-Dream.” YouTube, 29 May 2012, youtu.be/FJt7gNi3Nr4. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024. 

Kagan, Shelly. Normative Ethics. Taylor & Francis Group, 1997. Created from utoronto on 7 Jan. 2024, 22:00:04. Plato. Five Dialogues. 2nd ed., translated by G. M. A. Grube, revised by John Cooper, Hackett Publishers, 2002, p. 75-82. p. 1-22