ONLINE FIRST
published on September 3, 2022
Joshua Hinchie
https://doi.org/10.5840/acpaproc202292137
Divine Glory: Responding to Another Euthyphro Problem
An oft-neglected issue in Plato¡¯s Euthyphro is the problem of how human beings can reciprocate the gods¡¯ gifts if nothing we do can benefit them. This problem is relevant to a Christian faith that proposes to ¡°serve¡± God in some way, while also maintaining that God is perfect and in need of nothing from human beings. In this paper I propose a solution to this problem using the concept of divine glory as suggested by several texts of St. Thomas Aquinas. I believe that Aquinas¡¯s claim that God seeks not profit but glory from human acts explains how human beings can reciprocate God¡¯s gifts without detracting from his perfection and self-sufficiency.