THE PLATONIC DIALOGUES IN DRAMATIC ORDER

Plato’s Dialogues in their dramatic order – according to Catherine H. Zuckert in Plato’s

Philosophers: The Coherence of the Dialogues (8-9) – with indications of the fundamental shifts
in the thinking of Socrates – with ancient sub-titles, classifications and synopses.
TITLE SETTING DRAMATIC DATE CHARACTERS STYLE SUB-TITLE ANCIENT
CLASSIFICATION

Laws Road to the Temple of Zeus on Mt. Ida 460-50 BC Athenian Stranger, Non-narrated On Legislation Political
Clinias, Non-aporetic
Megillus
Synopsis: Three old men, an Cretan, a Spartan, and an Athenian, travel together to the Cave-Temple of Zeus on Mt. Ida in Crete. As they go, they discuss the origin and purpose of law. Much
later, they decide to discuss hypothetical laws for the founding of a new colony.
Epinomis No setting 460-50 BC Athenian Stranger Non-narrated Or Nocturnal Council Political
Clinias Non-aporetic
Megillus
Synopsis: If this is an authentic dialogue, it is the final chapter of Plato’s last work, the Laws. The subject is the nature of wisdom.
455-50 BC: Socrates’ turn from the study of nature or the beings to the study of logoi (related in the Phaedo)
Parmenides Athenian Agora, then Antiphon’s 450 BC (August) Socrates, Narrated (by Cephalus, On Ideas Logical
house 382 BC (Frame) Cephalus, Adeimantus who narrates what (peri ideon) (logikos)
Glaucon, Antiphon Pythodorus told Antiphon)
Pythodorus, Zeno,
Parmenides, Aristotle of
Thorae
Synopsis: Socrates, as a very young man, meets two famous philosophers, Zeno and his teacher Parmenides. Socrates puts forth a theory about the existence of ideal Forms that transcend
physical reality. His theory is thoroughly criticized by Parmenides. Parmenides tries to encourage the defeated Socrates. It is not that his view is wrong, but he must train himself if he is to be
able to defend it. Parmenides then demonstrates for Socrates the kind of philosophical exercise he needs if he is to do philosophy well and defend his thesis about the Forms. But the exercise
proves to be both extremely difficult and extremely mystifying.
450-33 BC: Socrates’ turn from the study of logoi to doxai, related in the Symposium and the Apology
Stage 1: Peloponnesian War, Part I; Aporetic dialogues, do not convert listeners
Protagoras Socrates' room, the courtyard and 433-32 BC Socrates, Hippocrates, Narrated Or Sophists Endeictic
street, the house of Callias; the unnamed slave, Callias, (By Socrates to an (Sophistai)
frame:later in the day in an unspecified Protagoras, Hippias, anonymous friend), with a
public place Prodicus, Critias, non-narrated frame
Alcibiades (also present:
lying around Prodicus: Aporetic
Agathon, Adeimantus,
Adeimantus (neither is the
Adeimantus of the
Republic; seated around
Hippias: Eyrximachus,
Phaedrus, Andron;
following Protagoras:
Xanthippus, Paralus,
Charmides, Philippides,
Antimoerus)

Synopsis: Socrates’ friend Hippocrates wakes Socrates up at the crack of dawn to go to see the famous sophist, Protagoras, who has just come into town. The two of them go to the house of
Callias, where they find a convention of famous sophists. Protagoras is the big star. Socrates questions him about his teaching, and in effect, challenges him to a debate. They discuss the
nature of virtue and whether or not the virtues are many or one.
Alcibiades Major No setting 432 BC Socrates Non-narrated On the Nature of Man Maieutic
Alcibiades Non-aporetic (maieutikos)
Synopsis: Socrates converses with Alcibiades, one of the most beautiful, famous, and gifted of the Athenians, a man who would someday become one of the most famous generals of ancient
history. In this story, Alcibiades is still a young man, just reaching his maturity. Socrates reveals that Alcibiades’ ambition is to rule the world, and claims that if Alciabides wants to achieve his
ambition, he needs Socrates’ help.
Alcibiades Minor On the way to an unnamed temple 432 BC Socrates Non-narrated On Prayer Maieutic
Alcibiades Non-aporetic (maieutikos)
Socrates and Alcibiades have a conversation and a prayer
Charmides A wrestling school (after the Battle of 429 BC Socrates, Chaerephon, Narrated (by Socrates) On Moderation Peirastic/Tentative
Potidea) Critias, Charmides Aporetic (Sophrosune) (peirastikos)
Synopsis: Socrates, who is a soldier just returned from a military campaign, has a conversation with two of his friends, Plato’s relatives, Critias and Charmides. Critias and Charmides would
later (after the time of the dramatic setting of the dialogue but long before the composition of the dialogue) become members of the Thirty Tyrants, an oligarchic faction installed in power in
Athens by the Spartans after Athens lost the Peloponnesian War. Critias would be responsible for exiling and murdering many people. In this conversation, which transpires years before these
historical events, Socrates and his friends are inquiring into the nature of moderation.
Laches After an exhibition of fighting in armor 423 BC Socrates, Lysimachus, Non-narrated On Courage Maieutic
Nicias, Laches, Aristides, Aporetic (peri andreias) (maieutikos)
Thucydides, Melesias
Synopsis: Socrates has a conversation with two generals about the nature of courage. One of these generals testifies as to Socrates’ courage and claims that conversation with Socrates can
test whether or not a man’s deeds match his words.
Hippias Major Public place in Athens 421 BC Socrates Non-narrated On the Beautiful Refutative
(June-July) Hippias Aporetic (peri tou kalou) (anatreptikos)
Synopsis: Socrates and Hippias search for a definition of beauty.(An aporetic dialogue possibly secretly revealing the ‘Form’ of Beauty)
Hippias Minor Phidostratus’ school 421-16 BC Socrates Non-narrated On Falsehood Refutative
(June-July: 2 days Hippias Aporetic (peri tou pseudous) (anatreptikos)
after Hippias Maj) Eudicus
Synopsis: Socrates talks with the sophist Hippias. They discuss who was the greater hero, Odysseus or Achilles? Socrates seems to claim that the one who lies is superior to the one who
does not.
Stage 2: Peloponnesian War, Part II; Socrates presents a positive teaching
Symposium From public place to Agathon’s house February 416 BC Socrates, Aristodemus,
(day after Agathon’s Agathon, Pausanias,
victory – first prize in Aristophanes,
tragedy at the Eryximachus, Phaedrus,
Lenaean festival Alcibiades; Diotima is
recalled; in the frame:
Apollodorus, a friend;
Glaucon is recalled
Narrated with a non- On the Good Ethical
narrated frame; (ethikos)
Apollodorus is telling
someone what he told
Glaucon about what
Aristodemus told him

Synopsis: Apollodorus, a big Socrates fan, tells the story of a past party that Socrates attended at the house of the tragic playwright Agathon. Besides Agathon, the comic poet Aristophanes
was there, the doctor Eryximachus, Socrates’ friends Phaedrus and Aristodemus, and others. After the banquet, the men, most of whom were still hung-over from the night before, decided to
skip drinking and have a friendly contest. They would see who could make the best speech in praise of the god of love. Each of them gives a speech about love. When it is Socrates’ turn, he
tells the story of how he learned about love from a wise-woman named Diotima. After Socrates’ amazing speech, the drunken Alcibiades crashes the party and starts telling stories about
Socrates, including a story about how he once tried to sexually seduce Socrates and failed.
Phaedrus On the banks of the Ilisus River, under 415 BC Socrates Non-narrated On the Beautiful Ethical
a plane tree Phaedrus Non-aporetic (peri kalou) (ethikos)
Synopsis: Outside the walls of Athens on a sunny day, Socrates and his pal Phaedrus discuss love, speeches about love, and the art of speechmaking.
Ion A public place 413 BC Socrates Non-narrated On the Iliad Peirastic/Tentative
Ion (Thematic in the Republic) (peirastikos)
Synopsis: Socrates meets the actor Ion. Ion claims to know all about the poet Homer and claims that Homer knew everything. Socrates argues that poets create by means of divine inspiration,
not by means of intellectual understanding.
Cleitophon No setting 411 BC (Zuckert) Socrates Non-narrated Protreptic Ethical
421-16 (Welton) Cleitophon (Intro to the Republic) (ethikos)
Synopsis: Socrates confronts Clitophon. He has heard a rumor that Clitophon is talking about him behind his back. Clitophon explains that he both praises and criticizes Socrates. He praises
Socrates for his ability to inspire others to seek virtue. But he criticizes Socrates because Socrates is unable to explain how virtue is to be gained.
Republic Piraeus during the Festival of Bendis 411 BC (Zuckert) Socrates, Glaucon, Narrated (by Socrates) On Justice Political
Problematic (W) Polemarchus, Adeimantus (peri dikaiou) (politikos)
Niceratus Non-aporetics
Thrasymachus
Cleitophon
Cephalus
Socrates and Glaucon are detatined at the house of Polemarchus’ father in the Piraeus. Unable to reach consensus on what is Justice?, Socrates asks them to try to see it “writ large” in the
form of a just city. Allegory of the Cave and Critique of Poetry
Philebus No setting No date (Z and W) Socrates, Protarchus, Non-narrated On Pleasure Ethical
Philebus Non-aporetic (peri hedones) (ethikos)
Thematic in Republic
Synopsis: Socrates, Protarchus, and Philebus debate about whether the good life is the life of knowledge or the life of pleasure.
Timaeus House of Critias during the 409-08 BC (Z) Socrates, Timaeus, Critias, Non-narrated On Nature Physical
Panathenea 429 BC (W) Hermocrates Non-aporetic
Synopsis: The day after Socrates recounted the story of the Republic, or perhaps the day after Socrates had discussed some of the same political ideas, Socrates’ friend, Timaeus, treats
Socrates to a story about the creation of the Universe.
Critias House of Critias, Panathenaen 409-08 BC (Z) Socrates, Timaeus, Critias, Non-narrated Atlanticus Ethical
Festival 429 (W) Hermocrates (ethikos)
Synopsis: Critias presents the earliest known account of the lost city of Atlantis
Stage III: Last 10 years of Fifth Century BC; elenctic dialogues, but Socrates has a following now, so no grand philosophical vision; personal conversion not philosophical goal
Theages In the stoa of Zeus 409 BC (Z) Socrates, Demodocus, Non-narrated On Wisdom Maieutic
None (W) Theages (peri sophias) (maieutikos)
Synopsis: Demodocus wants Socrates to teach his son Theages. Socrates refuses, saying that the divine “inner voice” he hears forbids him to do so. He then tells stories about various
warnings he had received in the past from his “divine sign” and the bad things that happened to those who didn’t heed them.
Euthydemus No definite setting 407 BC Socrates, Crito, Narrated On Disputation Refutative
(Frame is next day) Euthydemus, (By Socrates to Crito With (eristikos) (anatreptikos)
Dionysodorus, Clinias, non-narrated frame)
Ctesippus Aporetic
Synopsis: Socrates and his friend encounter two experts in verbal wrestling.
Lysis A wrestling school 406 BC (Z) Socrates, Hippothales, Narrated On Friendship Maieutic
409 BC (W) Ctesippus, Lysis, (By Socrates) (peri philias) (maieutikos)
Early Spring Menexenus Aporetic
Synopsis: Socrates meets some young boys, Hippothales and his friends. Hippothales has been driving his friends crazy with endless lovesick talking about his current crush, Lysis. Socrates
offers to show Hippothales how he should go about chatting up Lysis. Socrates then has a conversation with Lysis and his friend Menexenus about the nature of friendship. Is a friend someone
who is like us, as in the saying “birds of a feather flock together”? Or is a friend someone different from us, who complements us by possessing some quality that we lack, as in “opposites
attract”?
Gorgias At the site where Gorgias has just 405 BC (Z) Socrates, Gorgias, Polus, Non-narrated On Rhetoric Refutative
given a display Problematic (W) Callicles, Chaerophon (peri rhetorikes) (anatreptikos)
Synopsis: Socrates and Chaerephon meet the famous orator, Gorgias, and two of his followers. Socrates asks Gorgias what it is he claims to know and teach. Gorgias teaches rhetoric, but
Socrates claims it is not an art. Then Socrates argues with Polus and Callicles about the best way to live.
Meno A public place 402-01 BC Socrates, Meno, Anytus, Non-narrated On Virtue Peirastic/Tentative
and Meno’s unnamed Aporetic (peri arethes) (peirastikos)
slave
Synopsis: Meno asks Socrates how virtue is acquired. Are we born with it, or can we learn it in some way? Socrates says that before he can answer that question, he must first find out what
virtue is. In response to Socrates’ questions Meno tries to explain what virtue is and fails. Meno then raises an argument to show that it is impossible to learn anything. One cannot learn what
one already knows; and if you don’t already know what something is, you will never be able to know for sure when you have fou nd it. Socrates tries to show that learning is really recollecting
knowledge already inside us, by questioning an uneducated slaveboy about a problem in geometry. Later, Anytus shows up. Anytus is one of the men who will later take Socrates to court for
impiety and corrupting the young. We see how Socrates on this occasion manages to offend him.
Stage IV: Set around the trial and death of Socrates; focussed on a defence of the Socratic way
Theaetetus In a gymnasium in Athens; Frame: 399 BC (Spring) Socrates, Theodorus, Non-narrated On Knowledge Peirastic/Tentative
house of Euclides in Megara 369 BC (Frame – Z) Theaetetus With a non-narrated frame (peri epistemes) (peirastikos)
391 BC (Frame – W) Frame: Euclides, Terpsion
and a male slave (reader of
dialogue)
Synopsis: Theaetetus has just received a mortal wound on the battlefield. In his honor, Euclides and Terpsion listen to an account of a conversation Socrates once had with Theaetetus when
Theaetetus was only a young boy. Socrates and Theaetetus had explored the question “what is knowledge?”
Euthyphro Stoa of the King Archon 399 BC (Spring) Socrates Non-narrated On Piety Peirastic/Tentative
Later the same day Euthyphro Aporetic (peri hosiou) (peirastikos)
 as Theaetetus
Synopsis: Just before Socrates’ trial on charges of impiety, he meets Euthyphro, a devout man who believes he knows what the gods want.
Cratylus No setting 399 BC (Z) Socrates, Cratylus, Non-narrated On the Correctness of Logical
Possibly before 422 Hermogenes Names (logikos)
BC (W)
Synopsis: Socrates, Hermogenes and Cratylus discuss whether our names for things are natural or conventional.
Sophist Same gymnasium as the Theaetetus 399 BC (Spring) Socrates, Theodorus, Non-narrated On Being Logical
Day after Eleatic Stranger, Non-aporetic (peri tou ontos) (logikos)
Theaetetus and Theaetetus, Young
Euthyphro (W) Socrates
Synopsis: The day after the events of the Theaetetus, Theodorus and Theaetetus introduce Socrates to a visitor from Elea. The visitor is a philosopher from the school of Parmenides. Socrates
wonders if the visitor is a god in disguise. At Socrates’ prompting, the visitor offers to explain the difference between a sophist, a statesman, and a philosopher. The rest of the dialogue
consists of the visitor’s attempt to define what a sophist is. In the course of this discussion, the visitor and Theaetetus must question and re-examine Parmenides’ claim that only Being can be
in order to show that false statements are possible.
Statesman Same gymnasium as Theaetetus and 399 BC (Spring) Socrates, Theodorus, Non-narrated On Kingship Logical
Sophist Immediately after Eleatic Stranger, Non-aporetic (peri basileias) (logikos)
Sophist Theaetetus, Young
Socrates
Synopsis: After the events of the Sophist, the Eleatic Visitor continues the discussion with a young man who is also named Socrates (but is not the famous Socrates). The Visitor now seeks the
definition of the statesman. Like the Sophist, much of this dialogue is about how to engage in philosophical classification. The statesman is slowly and tediously classified and defined. Along
the way a bizarre myth is told about the cyclical history of the universe, and how, when the universe changes the direction of its spinning, time runs backwards. The Visitor discusses the nature
and purpose of examples, and then uses weaving as an example of statesmanship. Different forms of government and the importance and limitations of law are also discussed.
Apology of Socrates Court of Athens 399 BC (May-June) Socrates, Meletus Non-narrated None Ethical
Trial speech with some (ethikos)
dialogue
Synopsis: Socrates is on trial for his life. The charges are corrupting the young and not believing in the gods of the city. He makes his defense speech before the Athenian jury.
Crito Prison cell of Socrates 399 BC (June-July) Socrates, Crito Non-narrated On Action Ethical
Non-aporetic (peri prakteou) (ethikos)
Synopsis: Socrates, having been sentenced to die, is awaiting his execution. His friend Crito arrives with a plan for an escape. Socrates refuses to escape because he believes it is his duty to
stay and take the penalty.
Phaedo Prison cell of Socrates 399 BC (June-July) Socrates, Cebes, Simmias, Narrated On the Soul Ethical
Frame: Pythagorean community at Frame: short time Crito, Xanthippe, Warden, (By Phaedo to Echecrates (peri psyches) (ethikos)
Phlius (weeks) after Poisoner with a non-narrated frame)
Frame: Phaedo,
Echecrates
Synopsis: On the day Socrates is to be executed, his friends visit him in his cell. They discuss whether or not the soul is immortal.
Menexenus Off the agora 387-86 BC (Z?) Socrates, Menexenus Non-narrated dialogue Funeral Oration Ethical
401-00 BC (W) introducing a funeral (ethikos)
speech
Synopsis: Socrates claims to have been taught the art of speech-making by Pericles’ courtesan, Aspasia. Here he shows off his skill to Menexenus, by making a funeral speech in honor of
recently fallen war dead.