The Platonic Dialogue Lysis

The Platonic dialogue Lysis attempts to explain what friendship is and how it is formed. Throughout the dialogue, Socrates discusses seven varying in definition. The first three were a logical representations of two people, one friending, being friended, and a reciprocated friendship. Even though none of these passed Socrates’s inquiry, they become important for understanding friendship later on. Socrates goes on to try and define friendship by the attitude of the person, example a person of like interests and ideals friending another. However, the definition that suits the idea of friendship the best is the acquisition of wisdom being the primary motivator. I for one agree with this notion and we shall explore this further. Socrates explains
Since the dialogue left off at an unanswered question, we the readers are unable to discern a definitive conclusion or meaning from the text. So as the reader we are left to our own devices to make our own definition and meaning out of friendship which is probably its greatest strength. Through it and this paper, I was questioning my own understanding of friendship and left me more resolute in my understanding than ever. Most of the definitions our arguments in the Lysis were not the true essence of what friendship is, rather how people can make an initial or enduring connection to get to friendship.Belonging and wisdom are by products and motivators of friendship. Friendship is first and foremost an ideal, something to aspire to, much like wisdom. It is never fully attainable, at most we are offered brief moments to its truth and we should revel in it when it shows itself. Much like wisdom, the pursuit of it is noble, for instance you don’t break off everything because of one small fight. If that is the case then it would not be a strong relationship. One does not give up when things start to get rough, so the pursuit of an impossible goal, actualizing an ideal, is futile, but we become better people through the chase and that is what