Laches

Literapedia Book Notes for
=//Laches// by Plato=

Characters

 * **Lysimachus**—
 * **Melesias**—
 * **Nicias**—
 * **Laches**—
 * **Socrates**—

Background to Laches

 * 1) Inquires into the nature of courage.
 * 2) Since there was no public education, parents would employ private tutors for their kids.
 * 3) Hellenes" are Greeks
 * 4) Lacedaemonians" are Spartans, a people known for their prowess in war.

Part 1: Is There Value in Military Training? (1-69)

 * 1) Lysimachus and Melesias ask advice concerning the military education of their sons.
 * 2) Nicias advises for military training (17-18).
 * 3) Laches advises against military training (19-24).
 * 4) Socrates questions who is best qualified to answer this question.

Part 2: Laches Tries to Define Bravery (70-158)

 * 1) Socrates suggests defining bravery.
 * 2) Laches first defines bravery as standing and fighting (85).
 * 3) Laches redefines bravery as endurance (107).

Part 3: Nicias Tries to Define Bravery (159-268)

 * 1) Nicias suggests that bravery is a special kind of wisdom [knowledge] (163).
 * 2) Socrates shows that the definition of Nicias cannot distinguish between bravery and virtue [goodness] (253).
 * 3) Socrates concludes that they all need an education.

Book Note Creator
Hal Waller, instructor