Ιππίας, Μείζων και Ελάσσων

In this classic Platonic dialogue, the sophist Ippias engages Socrates in a lively debate over the nature of beauty. Beginning with playful examples—a maiden, a gilded object, a polished spoon— Ippias attempts ever‑more refined definitions, while Socrates gently pushes the conversation toward deeper criteria such as usefulness, goodness, and the pleasure of perception. Their exchange showcases the Socratic method at work, revealing how seemingly simple concepts can unfold into intricate philosophical puzzles.

The second part, often called the “Minor” Ippias, adds the character Eudikos and turns the discussion toward truth and falsehood. Here the interlocutors examine whether the liar differs fundamentally from the truth‑teller, drawing analogies from Homer’s heroes Achilles and Odysseus. Listeners are invited into the early stages of Plato’s exploration of ethics and epistemology, experiencing the sharp wit and rigorous reasoning that characterize his early works.