The Dialogues, Volume 1

This is Volume 1 of Benjamin Jowett's 1892 translation of the Dialogues of Plato and includes: Charmides; Lysis; Laches; Protagoras; Euthydemus; Cratylus; Phaedrus; Ion; and, Symposium. Jowett’s translation has long been valued for its clarity and literary restraint, preserving the argumentative precision of Plato’s dialogues while making them accessible to English-speaking readers. This volume brings together some of Plato’s most influential early and middle dialogues, addressing ethics, knowledge, language, love, rhetoric, and the formation of character.

Charmides explores the nature of temperance and self-control, questioning whether true moderation lies in quiet behaviour, self-knowledge, or moral harmony. Lysis examines friendship, probing whether bonds arise from similarity, difference, or shared pursuit of the good. In Laches, Plato turns to the concept of courage, testing common assumptions about bravery in war and in moral life, and revealing the difficulty of defining virtue with precision.

Protagoras presents a vivid encounter between Socrates and the famous sophist, debating whether virtue can be taught and exposing tensions between moral relativism and objective ethical truth. Euthydemus satirises sophistical argument, contrasting empty verbal trickery with genuine philosophical inquiry, while also reflecting on education and the misuse of logic. Cratylus investigates the relationship between words and reality, asking whether language reflects the true nature of things or is merely a matter of convention.

Phaedrus blends philosophy, rhetoric, and psychology, offering reflections on love, the soul, and the responsible use of persuasive speech. Ion considers artistic inspiration, questioning whether poets and performers create through knowledge or divine influence. Finally, Symposium presents a series of speeches on love, culminating in Socrates’ account of love as a spiritual ascent toward truth and beauty, making it one of Plato’s most enduring and influential works.

Together, these dialogues form a coherent introduction to Platonic philosophy, illustrating Socratic method, ethical inquiry, and the foundations of Western philosophical thought. Jowett’s translation remains a standard reference for students, scholars, and general readers seeking a serious yet readable encounter with Plato’s ideas.