Lesser Hippias

"A Socratic Dialogue on Truth, Falsehood, and Moral Knowledge

Lesser Hippias—also known as Hippias Minor—is a short yet intellectually provocative dialogue in which Plato explores one of philosophy’s most paradoxical questions: Is the person who does wrong knowingly better than the one who does so in ignorance?

Through a sharp exchange between Socrates and the sophist Hippias, Plato examines themes of truth and deception, moral responsibility, and intellectual honesty. By comparing figures such as Achilles and Odysseus from Homeric epic, the dialogue challenges conventional ideas about virtue, knowledge, and ethical behavior.

Despite its brevity, Lesser Hippias is a key work in ancient Greek philosophy and an excellent introduction to the Socratic method. Its logical twists and ironic conclusions encourage readers to think critically about intention, knowledge, and moral accountability.

✨ Why Read Lesser Hippias?

Explores truth, lying, and moral paradoxes

A classic example of Socratic dialogue and argument

Ideal for readers new to Plato’s philosophy

Short, focused, and intellectually stimulating

Essential to studies of ethics and classical philosophy

Perfect for students, scholars, and general readers interested in Plato dialogues, ethical philosophy, and classical Greek thought, Lesser Hippias offers timeless insight into the complexity of truth and virtue.

📚 A concise but powerful philosophical dialogue that challenges how we define honesty, knowledge, and moral goodness."