CHARMIDES by Plato

Paper Back Book, 70 Pages
Print Book: Digest (5.5 x 8.5 in / 140 x 216 mm), High Quality Black & White, Thick Paper, Paperback Perfect Bound, Matte Cover.

In Plato's Charmides, the wise Socrates encounters the young and strikingly handsome Charmides, a youth praised for his temperate nature. Joined by Charmides' ambitious guardian, Critias, they embark on a captivating philosophical inquiry to uncover the true essence of sophrosyne – a complex Greek concept encompassing temperance, moderation, self-control, and wisdom. As Socrates gently questions Charmides and then the more assertive Critias, a series of promising definitions are proposed. Yet, one by one, each attempt crumbles under the weight of Socratic examination, revealing hidden contradictions and deeper complexities. The conversation veers into the intriguing and challenging notion of "knowing oneself" and even "knowledge of knowledge itself." Charmides is a masterful display of the Socratic method in action, showcasing the difficulty of pinning down abstract moral concepts. It's a subtle and engaging exploration of ethics, epistemology, and the human desire for self-understanding, leaving the reader to ponder whether true temperance lies not in a simple definition, but in the very act of seeking it.