Subject
Virtue -- Early works to 1800 Books
Best books
Plato
Meno
"Meno" by Plato is a Socratic dialogue written around 385 BC. The work begins with a simple question: Can virtue be taught? As Socrates and his young interlocutor Meno pursue this inquiry, they encounter profound puzzles about the nature of knowledge itself. How can we search for what we don't know? Why is knowledge more valuable than true belief? Through dialectical exchange and a famous geometric demonstration with a slave, Plato explores recollection, learning, and the immortality of the soul.
Plato
Protagoras
"Protagoras" by Plato is a dialogue written in ancient Greece. Socrates engages the renowned sophist Protagoras in a spirited philosophical debate at the lavish home of Callias. Their central contest: Can virtue be taught? As young Athenians and fellow sophists gather to witness the exchange, the two thinkers clash over the nature of goodness, the unity of virtue, and the relationship between pleasure and moral excellence. This lively encounter reveals fundamental questions about education, wisdom, and what it means to live well.
Bernard Mandeville
The Fable of the Bees; Or, Private Vices, Public Benefits
"The Fable of the Bees; Or, Private Vices, Public Benefits" by Bernard Mandeville is a philosophical work written in the early 18th century. The text explores the complex interplay between individual vices and the collective benefits they purportedly provide to society. Through allegorical storytelling, Mandeville examines moral values, questioning the conventional notions of virtue while illustrating how personal greed and selfishness can lead to a flourishing civilization. The opening of the work lays out Mandeville's critical view of social dynamics, using the metaphor of a bee hive to symbolize human society. He introduces the concept that the bees (representing people) thrive on both cooperation and vice, suggesting that even the most despised traits contribute to societal success. He critiques the apparent disconnect between the moral expectations of individuals and the economic realities that often require selfish behaviors for communal prosperity. Through this engaging metaphor, Mandeville sets the stage for a deeper inquiry into moral virtue and the nature of society.
Unknown
Alcibiades I
"Alcibiades I" by Plato is a dialogue from ancient Greece. Socrates confronts the ambitious young Alcibiades just as he prepares to enter Athenian politics. Through persistent questioning, Socrates exposes the youth's ignorance about justice, virtue, and self-knowledge. He challenges Alcibiades to examine his soul and pursue true wisdom before seeking power. The dialogue explores whether the charismatic young man will accept Socrates as his mentor and commit to improving his character—or whether political ambition will prove too strong.
Unknown
Alcibiades II
"Alcibiades II" by Plato is a dialogue of disputed authenticity, likely composed in the 3rd or 2nd centuries BC. Socrates encounters the ambitious Alcibiades on his way to pray and warns him about the dangers of asking the gods for things without understanding whether they are truly good or harmful. Through questioning, Socrates explores the relationship between knowledge, ignorance, and wisdom, ultimately persuading Alcibiades to postpone his sacrifice until he can better distinguish good from evil.
Plato
Μένων
"Μένων" by Plato is a Socratic dialogue written around 385 BC. The work explores fundamental questions about virtue: Can it be taught, practiced, or does it come naturally? When Socrates and Meno struggle to define virtue itself, they encounter the famous "Meno's Paradox"—how can one search for something they don't know? Socrates responds with his theory of recollection, demonstrating it through a geometric puzzle posed to a slave, suggesting all learning is remembering what the soul already knows.
Plato
Πρωταγόρας
"Πρωταγόρας" by Plato is a dialogue written in ancient Greece. The work stages a philosophical debate between Socrates and the celebrated sophist Protagoras at the home of Callias. Their discussion explores whether virtue can be taught and what makes a good citizen. The dialogue features numerous notable Athenians and includes Protagoras defending sophistry as an honorable profession while Socrates challenges his claims through questioning. Through myth and argument, the two thinkers wrestle with fundamental questions about wisdom, education, and human excellence.
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