Eryxias

In this provocative Socratic dialogue, Plato subjects wealth to ruthless interrogation. Socrates and his companions debate whether money possesses any real value, or whether it's merely a neutral tool whose worth depends entirely on how it's used. The conversation takes a surprising turn when it becomes clear that the question of wealth cannot be separated from the question of what we should live for - what constitutes the good life, and what role philosophy ought to play in pursuing it. The dialogue is unusual among Platonic works for its directness. Rather than wrapping ethical questions in elaborate myths or metaphysical speculation, Eryxias strips the matter down to its bones. Its apparent simplicity conceals genuine philosophical depth, and its questions feel remarkably contemporary. Scholars continue to debate its authorship - it may not even be by Plato - yet the work's inquiry into what we truly value remains urgently relevant.