Meno and Other Dialogues — Plato

In these four dialogues Plato considers virtue and its definition Charmides Laches and Lysis investigate the specific virtues of self control courage and friendship the later Meno discusses the concept of virtue as a whole and whether it is something that can be taught In the conversations between Socrates and his interlocutors moral concepts are debated and shown to be more complex than at first appears until all the participants in the conversations are reduced to bafflement The artistry as well as the philosophy of these dialogues has always been widely admired The introduction to this edition explains the course of the four dialogues and examines the importance of Socrates questions and arguments and the notes cover major and minor points in more detail This is an essential volume for understanding the brilliance of the first Western philosopher