Cover of Lysis

Lysis

by Plato

First published
1998
Reading level
Plain English
Price
Free

About the book

"Lysis" by Plato is a dialogue written in the early period of Plato's work. In this philosophical conversation, Socrates encounters young men at a wrestling school and engages them in examining the nature of philia—an intimate bond deeper than modern friendship. Through questioning two boys, Lysis and Menexenus, Socrates explores whether true friendship exists between similar people, opposites, or something else entirely. Each promising definition is systematically challenged, leaving the nature of loving friendship mysteriously unresolved.

  • Classical literature
  • Socrates, 470 BC-399 BC
  • Friendship

Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #1579. Lysis on Wikipedia.

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