Plato and His Dialogues

5 snips

Jun 26, 2025

Delve into the intriguing world of Plato as the hosts discuss the timeless relevance of his dialogues in today's Catholic thought. Unpack the Socratic Method and the Theory of Forms, illuminating how these concepts encourage a life rooted in virtue. Explore Plato's influence on Christian philosophy and the moral complexities revealed through Socratic exchanges. The conversation also navigates love and wisdom in the Symposium, identifying their connection to modern existential dilemmas. Finally, examine justice from Plato's Republic and the quest for a meaningful life.

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INSIGHT

Plato's Dialogues as Philosophy

Plato's dialogues feature Socrates as the main character exploring big philosophical questions through conversation.
These dialogues show philosophy as a dynamic search for truth, not just fixed answers or lectures.

ADVICE

Read Plato Over TikTok

Reading Plato's dialogues is never a waste of time; it enriches your thinking and life.
Prioritize reading these classical texts over superficial media like TikTok for deeper growth.

ANECDOTE

Socrates' Trial and Defense

Socrates is tried for corrupting youth by encouraging philosophy and questioning authority.
He cheekily proposes free meals as his punishment, showing his principled defiance to conviction.

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Apologia pro vita sua

St. John Henry Newman

Apologia Pro Vita Sua is John Henry Newman's personal account of his religious beliefs and how they evolved over time. Originally published in 1864 as a response to criticisms by Charles Kingsley, the book chronicles Newman's transition from Anglicanism to Catholicism. It is divided into five parts, each covering a different period in his life, providing a deep insight into his spiritual development and intellectual struggles.

Symposium

Plato

The Symposium is a philosophical dialogue written by Plato around 370 BCE. It depicts a friendly contest of extemporaneous speeches given by a group of notable Athenian men, including Socrates, Alcibiades, and Aristophanes, in praise of Eros, the god of love. The dialogue is structured as a series of speeches, each developing the ideas of the previous one, and culminates in Socrates' speech, which recounts his conversation with the wise woman Diotima. The work explores various aspects of love, including its benefits, its connection to philosophy, and its role in human happiness. The setting is a banquet at the house of the tragedian Agathon, where the men engage in drinking and conversation, leading to heartfelt and noble speeches about love[1][2][5].

Euthyphro

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Plato

Plato's "Euthyphro" is a short but significant dialogue that explores the nature of piety and the relationship between morality and divine will. The dialogue centers on a conversation between Socrates and Euthyphro, who is prosecuting his own father for murder. Socrates challenges Euthyphro's definition of piety, leading to a series of attempts to define the concept that ultimately fail. The dialogue raises the famous Euthyphro dilemma: is something pious because the gods love it, or do the gods love it because it is pious? This dilemma highlights the tension between divine command theory and the existence of objective moral truths. "Euthyphro" is a classic example of Socratic questioning and its enduring relevance lies in its exploration of fundamental questions about morality and the nature of the divine.

Crito

Spence, Joseph

In 'Crito,' Plato presents a dialogue between Socrates and his friend Crito, who tries to persuade Socrates to escape from prison. The dialogue delves into themes of justice, duty, and the moral obligations of citizens towards their state. Socrates argues that he must obey the laws of Athens, even if they are unjust, because he has benefited from them throughout his life.

The Republic

Plato

The Brothers Karamazov

Larissa Volokhonsky

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Richard Pevear

Set in 19th-century Russia, 'The Brothers Karamazov' is a novel that delves into the lives of the Karamazov family, focusing on the three brothers—Dmitri, Ivan, and Alyosha—and their complex relationships with their father, Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov. The novel is a murder mystery, a courtroom drama, and an exploration of erotic rivalry, faith, doubt, and reason. It examines the human psyche, moral dilemmas, and the search for meaning in a world fraught with suffering and uncertainty. The story revolves around the murder of Fyodor Pavlovich and the subsequent trial of Dmitri, accused of the crime, while exploring deeper themes of Russian life, social and spiritual striving, and the clash between faith and reason[2][5][4].

Apology

Plato

Plato's *Apology* is a historical and philosophical account of Socrates' defense at his trial in 399 BCE. Socrates was charged with corrupting the youth and impiety, but instead of apologizing, he defended his actions as a philosopher, emphasizing his commitment to truth and virtue. The dialogue captures Socrates' fearless reasoning and his reflections on mortality, leading to his eventual sentencing to death by drinking hemlock.