Final answer:
Socrates practices true piety through philosophical discussions and seeks a deeper understanding of divine matters, aligning his approach with the quest for knowledge and virtue, central to his philosophical values.
Step-by-step explanation:
Socrates' perspective on piety and virtue offers a significant departure from the traditional religious practices of his time. In the context provided, it can be argued that Socrates exercises true piety through his method of inquiry and reasoning rather than through blind adherence to religious rituals and sacrifices. His guiding principle was that an unexamined life is not worth living, and this sentiment is echoed through his dedication to philosophical discussions and the pursuit of wisdom and virtue. Socrates' approach to understanding divine matters through dialogue and reasoned questioning aligns with his mission of seeking answers to fundamental questions by applying rational thought above all else.
Option C from the given choices—He engages in philosophical discussions to seek a deeper understanding of divine matters—best encapsulates Socrates' form of piety as it highlights his commitment to the rigorous examination of beliefs and the quest for a deeper moral and ethical understanding. Unlike the other options, which are rooted in external rituals and traditions, Socrates' method is an internal journey toward grasping the true essence of virtue and goodness, which can be seen as a form of reverence for the divine that transcends conventional expressions of religious devotion.
The Socratic method, which focuses on questioning and examining the opinions of others to reveal underlying assumptions and to encourage critical thinking, is central to understanding Socrates' way of life. He sought ethical knowledge and philosophical inquiry as the highest forms of piety, using his dialogues to explore the very meaning of virtue and the good life. Therefore, the alignment of his practices with the desire to obtain true knowledge and virtue resonates with his philosophical principles and the idea that living a virtuous life is inherently pious.