Home
/
Fiction
/
Protagoras and Meno
Protagoras and Meno
Nov 24, 2025 2:18 PM

Author:Plato,Lesley Brown,Adam Beresford

Protagoras and Meno

Exploring the question of what exactly makes good people good, Protagoras and Meno are two of the most enjoyable and accessible of all of Plato's dialogues. Widely regarded as his finest dramatic work, the Protagoras, set during the golden age of Pericles, pits a youthful Socrates against the revered sophist Protagoras, whose brilliance and humanity make him one the most interesting and likeable of Socrates' philosophical opponents, and turns their encounter into a genuine and lively battle of minds. The Meno sees an older but ever ironic Socrates humbling a proud young aristocrat as they search for a clear understanding of what it is to be a good man, and setting out the startling idea that all human learning may be the recovery of knowledge already possessed by our immortal souls.

Reviews

Sophisticated comedy-what gives it its distinction is the quality of observation and the unusual marriage of high spirits with melancholy awareness of the passing of time

—— Scotsman

Irresistible

—— Literary Review

An acute observer of manners and styles

—— Independent

Here is an imagination that effortlessly brings character after character to valiant, preposterous, malevolent or desperate life. Here is a writer who deserves to be far more widely read

—— Spectator

It has a lightness, a breadth... an impressive energy and a humane comedy... Entertaining and affecting

—— Times Literary Supplement

Why is he not spoken of in the same breath as Amis, Barnes and co? One of the best novels I have read this year

—— D. J. Taylor , Independent on Sunday

The only bad thing about this novel is that it had to end

—— Sunday Telegraph
Comments
Welcome to zzdbook comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.zzdbook.com All Rights Reserved