Protagoras, Philebus, and Gorgias

Three of Plato’s most important dialogues are brought together to address vital concerns that continue to occupy serious minds today: In the Protagoras Plato attempts to answer questions about the nature of virtue and whether it is inherent to humans or a subject capable of being taught. In the Philebus , he addresses the nature and content of the good and whether wisdom or pleasure is to be preferred. In the Gorgias Plato customarily applies what is learned from the previous discussions to address larger issues such as the proper functioning of society and the state and the individual’s appropriate place in them.