0256 Lysis Conclusions 1 of 5

The dialogue is traditionally considered to be about friendship. The structure of the dialogue suggests that there is more to it than that. For example, the narrated conversation between Socrates and the boys Lysis and Menexenus is contextualized as a demonstration to Hippothales on how to speak to one's lust object with a view to catching him. We may deduce from the non-reaction of the unknown audience to whom Socrates is narrating that this emphasis on eros (lust) is to engage the audience in a conversation otherwise of little interest.

Here I read through Platonic dialogues, translating and commenting on the Greek text as I go.

The resulting analyses may be found at:

https://theplatoparadigm.com