Dialogues · Chapter
Charmides explained
Socrates returns from Potidaea and engages in a dialogue about temperance (sophrosyne) with Critias and the beautiful young Charmides.
What happens
Socrates returns from Potidaea and engages in a dialogue about temperance (sophrosyne) with Critias and the beautiful young Charmides. The discussion explores various definitions of temperance, including doing one's own business, modesty, and self-knowledge, ultimately leaving the question unresolved.
Themes in this chapter
Education and Virtue
The dialogue examines whether temperance (a virtue) can be defined and taught, reflecting Socratic concern with moral education.
Knowledge and Ignorance
The search for a definition of temperance reveals the limits of knowledge and the importance of self-knowledge, a key Socratic theme.
Characters to notice
- Socrates
Returns from Potidaea and leads the inquiry into the nature of temperance.
- Charmides
The beautiful young man whose temperance is being examined; initially offers definitions of temperance.
- Critias
Charmides' guardian and cousin; takes over the argument, proposing that temperance is self-knowledge.
- Chaerephon
Present at the dialogue and participates in the initial conversation.
Key passages
“I returned from the army at Potidaea, having been absent from Athens for some time.”
Socrates begins by explaining that he has just come back to Athens after a long military campaign at Potidaea.
Sets the scene for the dialogue and establishes Socrates' recent return.
“Temperance is doing one's own business.”
Charmides first suggests that temperance means minding one's own affairs.
This definition is later criticized by Socrates as too vague and not unique to temperance.
“Temperance is self-knowledge.”
Critias proposes that temperance is equivalent to the Delphic maxim 'Know thyself.'
This definition leads to a deeper discussion about the nature of knowledge and its objects.