Source edition
Platonis Opera, Tomus II: Tetralogia III-IV. Burnet, John, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1910.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA (per Perseus's terms)
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work is a dialogue between Socrates and the young Alcibiades concerning the proper way to pray to the gods and the importance of the "knowledge of the best." As Alcibiades is on his way to offer prayers, Socrates stops him to point out the danger of praying for things without knowing whether they are truly beneficial. Through historical examples and poetic quotations, Socrates demonstrates that possessing specialized skills or vast knowledge without the knowledge of the best (what is truly advantageous) can lead individuals and states to ruin. He emphasizes that the gods value the justice of the soul and moderate prayers over lavish sacrifices. Ultimately, Alcibiades agrees to postpone his prayers and sacrifices until he acquires the correct knowledge to distinguish good from bad, ending the dialogue by presenting Socrates with a wreath of gratitude.