Lysis
Lysis is one of Plato's shorter early dialogues, a conversation about friendship, here in the English translation by Benjamin Jowett with his introduction. Socrates, now an older man, meets a group of young Athenians at a wrestling school and talks with two boys, Lysis and Menexenus, about what makes people friends: whether like is drawn to like or to its opposite, whether we love what is good for its own sake or for something beyond it. As in several early dialogues, no final answer is reached, and Socrates admits that they have failed to discover what a friend is. The charm of the setting and the playful questioning make it an approachable introduction to Plato. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the opening pages are free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Lysis
Lysis by Plato can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Lysis online?
Yes. Lysis opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Lysis free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Lysis is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Lysis in the public domain?
Yes. Lysis by Plato is a public-domain work, here in the translation by Benjamin Jowett. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Lysis?
About 50 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Lysis?
Lysis by Plato is filed under "Essays & Letters" in the Vinteuil library.
