Plato

This edition of Platos' short Dialogue, Laches, provides a detailed commentary on one of the most approachable and lively philosophical works in Greek. The concept of courage is the subject under discussion, in which Socrates questions and leads some prominent Athenian citizens to develop their ideas and recognise short comings. Two features of the work area particularly interesting: the argument and its setting draw upon and exploit the tensions in a wide range of 5th- and 4th-century BC cultural and social values submitting them to criticism: secondly, Plato's ideas and linguistic expression interrelated to provide a work which is ironically questioning rather than purely didactic.

This miniature masterpiece can only be fully appreciated through a reading of the original Greek text. The simplicity of language (accessible to students with just one or two year's Greek) belies the richness of texture, subtlety of characterisation and liveliness of style. Laches provides an introduction to Greek philosophy and culture through the work of one its greatest thinkers and artists.