# Charmides explained — Dialogues

> Chapter companion for Dialogues by Plato.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dialogues_se/chapters/charmides
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dialogues_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dialogues_se/chapters