Contains Apology, Crito, Phaedo, Protagoras, Meno, Symposium, and Gorgias. In general, these are considered the primary component of Plato's early works, in which he expounds that learned from his teacher Socrates. The arguments seem somewhat simplistic by today's standards, but the style and logic clearly represent the timeless fame rendered to Socrates. In Apology, Socrates willingly accepts indictment and makes his argument. True to his spirit, he makes adequate defense against both classes of charges but is still found guilty. In arguing his case, he brings out the idea that he is "wise" because he knows he is not and questions every principle proposed to him. In Crito, he also expresses that he wishes the mass could do bad for then they could also do good. Phaedo is moving in the way he willingly accepts his execution, explaining to his followers that a philosopher dedicates their entire life to separating body from soul. He considers it completely natural to follow what the law of society has ordained and does not fear his death but rather looks toward it. In Protogoras, Socrates debates with the former regarding why his young friend should follow Protogoras to learn Virtue. They explore exactly what that is and isn't and Socrates successfully impugns the self-proclaimed value of the Sophists' claim to profess teaching it. His analogy to merchants and their selling of wares without knowing what is good and bad for their customers makes one immediately think of so many modern "improvements." Hippocrates is also present at these debates. Meno involves constant debate regarding virtue. The final conclusion is that it comes from the Divine but must be defined before it can be better understood. In Symposium, Socrates joins in an after-dinner discussion to eulogize Eros. Several mythological concepts are introduced there: the belieft in two Aphrodite's (one being true love and one Pandium), the original human with twice as many of most parts (split by the gods to limit their arrogance and always searching for their pairs; the love is actually a search for immortality through reproduction, or a better society, et al). In Gorgias, Socrates debates the value of rhetoric. (Great phrase ascribed to Callicles: mad with eloquence, like a true politician). Judgment is portrayed as having originally (time of Cronos) been performed by "clothed" men on "clothed men, resulting in a superficial judgment as the dead were sent down one of two roads. To summarize the conclusions, rhetoric is in itself useless (or at least no more than any other skill) and an increase in power is also an increase in ability to sin. Socrates also compared trials of ideas to a trial of a doctor vs a candy maker with a jury composed of children. ( )

Two volumes with all the dialogues and Jowett's introductions. Victorian English handles ancient Greek better from a rhetorical perspective--elaborate language sounds off in contemporary English. Also, this translation tends to show the literary quality of Plato's writing...and not to get too bogged down in the philosophical language Plato was trying to create out of ordinary Greek. Still my favorite translation.