Author Description
Meno Charmides Laches Lysis 'do Please Try To Tell Us What Courage Is...' 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. About The Series: For Over 100 Years Oxford World's Classics Has Made Available The Widest Range Of Literature From Around The Globe. Each Affordable Volume Reflects Oxford's Commitment To Scholarship, Providing The Most Accurate Text Plus A Wealth Of Other Valuable Features, Including Expert Introductions By Leading Authorities, Helpful Notes To Clarify The Text, Up-to-date Bibliographies For Further Study, And Much More.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This collection investigates the fundamental nature of virtue and whether it can be acquired through instruction or innate capacity. Plato, the foundational figure of Western philosophy, utilizes the Socratic method to challenge the definitions of self-control, courage, and friendship. Through these dialogues, he demonstrates that common moral assumptions often collapse under rigorous logical scrutiny, forcing the interlocutors to confront the limits of their own understanding.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Philosophical examination of virtue, courage, self-control, and friendship
- The Socratic method of dialectical inquiry
- Historical context regarding Athenian social and moral values
Scope Limits
- Does not provide definitive, static answers to the moral questions posed
- Does not cover Plato's later metaphysical theories in depth
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and students frequently cite these dialogues as the primary entry point for understanding the Socratic method and the development of Western ethical thought. Readers often note the accessibility of the prose while acknowledging the profound intellectual rigor required to follow the logical progression of the arguments.
Page Count:
244
Publication Date:
2005-01-01
ISBN-10:
0191516805
ISBN-13:
9780191516801
Philosophy
Classical Philosophy
Epistemology
Dialogues
Ethics