Analyzing Plato's 'Laches Or Courage'

For my second step in researching Plato I have picked one of his written works titled ‘Laches, or Courage’ to read. I have completed reading this Dialogue type story that is between forty-four, fifty, to fifty-two pages depending on the type, font and format it is in. This story is about written 380 B.C.E and is about Socrates who speaks with two fathers and sons about learning the arts of military fighting, and what courage really is about. Socrates asks many questions in Plato’s writings and he never gives straight opinions or advice of if the fathers should send their boys off to learn how to fight properly. These fathers want to do the best for their sons, and they want to give their children a proper education where they also do not disgrace their ancestors since both sons are named after their grandfathers who were both military intelligence. Both fathers want to know if sending their boys off to learn what their own fathers had learned is a good choice for them or not. Socrates speaks to the sons, Laches and Nicias a lot on what courage …show more content…
The fathers were both concerned for their sons upbringing and education just like most fathers of today care about the wellbeing of their children. Throughout history of mankind a lot still remains the same and can always be relatable. I find being able to relate to people who lived in Plato and Socrates’s time fascinating. I can understand where these people are coming from in their concerns, and at the same time I visualize these same people to look, act and speak completely different from me. I find that it is wonderful that we have these written works by Plato who captures the essence of Socrates’s wisdom. I believe we are lucky Plato decided to write about Socrates and his own ideals, and that his work survived to this day. Plato is not in this dialogue, but I can see what he values and what to pass on to the next