The dialogue between Socrates and Euthyphro takes place on the Porch of the King of Archon. Both Socrates and Euthyphro are there for court business. Socrates has been indicted for the serious crime of corrupting the youth and has been accused of being impious. Euthyphro is there to bring charges against his father for murder. A man died while in the custody of Euthyphro's father and although the man himself was considered to be a murderer, Euthyphro feels that his father is guilty of murder. The two men commence to debate piety and holiness as well as the moral implications of charging ones father with murder.
The concept of holiness emerges in the dialogue between Socrates and Euthyphro when Socrates attempts to question Euthyphro about the difference between piety and impiety. Socrates believes Euthyphro to be wiser on the subject and believes that if he becomes a disciple of Euthyphro he can better fight the charge of impiety for which he has been indicted. Meletus has brought the charges of impiety against Socrates claiming that he is corrupting the youth. Socrates admires Meletus for bringing the accusation against him but wants to defend himself in court and believes that Euthyphro is his best hope. The concept of holiness takes a prominent position in the conversation because Socrates does not feel that Euthyphro has sufficiently answered his initial question. In response, Socrates asks the question in several different ways while trying to get Euthyphro to plainly answer what piety is and what impiety is. .
When Socrates first questions Euthyphro about the difference between piety and impiety, Euthyphro replies that piety is prosecuting one who is guilty of murder, no matter who the murderer is, just as he is doing against his father (Plato & Jowett, n.d.). He points out that even the god Zeus punished his own father. Socrates responds that although he would like to hear more about the gods at some point, of which he knows little, he is currently more interested in a precise answer to his question.