Charmides and Lysis

What does it mean to know yourself? And what draws one person to another? In two of his most engaging early dialogues, Plato brings Socrates into conversation with young Athenians who are confident they have the answers — only to discover how little they truly understand. Charmides examines the elusive virtue of temperance, or ‘self-mastery,’ as Socrates presses Charmides and his guardian Critias to define what they claim to possess. Lysis turns to friendship, asking whether we love others for their usefulness, their goodness, or something deeper, and why love and longing are so essential to being human. This edition renders both dialogues in clear, flowing modern English, preserving the drama and sharp questioning of the originals. A glossary, key passages, and a guide to reading Plato help today’s reader step into the world of the dialogues with confidence. Part of The Modern Wisdom Library.