29 Books by Plato for Free! [PDF]

Socrates meets a handsome young man and asks: what is self-control, really? Charmides is a lively debate where every answer leads to a harder question.

Plato wrote this early dialogue to show how Socrates thinks through problems. It is a great introduction to philosophy because you get to watch ideas being tested in real time.

Do words have a natural connection to what they name, or are they just made up? Cratylus is Plato's debate about language, meaning, and how we understand the world.

This dialogue was written around 360 BC, and the questions it raises are still alive today. Anyone curious about how words work will find this a rewarding read.

This is where the legend of Atlantis comes from. Critias describes a powerful island nation that angered the gods and sank into the sea.

Plato left this dialogue unfinished, which only adds to the mystery. If you have ever wondered where the Atlantis story began, it started right here.

Socrates sits in prison, waiting to die, and his friend begs him to escape. Crito is a powerful conversation about justice, duty, and why the rules matter.

Plato wrote this short dialogue as part of the story of Socrates' final days. It is brief, clear, and one of the best introductions to Plato you can find.

What kind of knowledge leads to wisdom? Epinomis argues that studying the stars and numbers is the highest path to understanding the universe.

This dialogue is linked to Plato, though scholars debate whether he wrote it himself. It is a short, thought-provoking read for anyone interested in ancient ideas about science and the divine.

Two brothers claim they can teach anyone anything, but Socrates quickly exposes their tricks. Euthydemus is a funny dialogue about the difference between real thinking and clever-sounding nonsense.

Plato wrote this to show why bad arguments matter, even when they sound smart. It reads almost like a comedy and teaches you to spot faulty logic.

Socrates meets a man who is about to put his own father on trial and asks a simple question: what is piety? Euthyphro shows how hard it is to define something everyone thinks they understand.

Plato set this dialogue just before Socrates' own trial. It is short, sharp, and one of the easiest ways to see the Socratic method in action.

Socrates meets a young man who wants to lead Athens but hasn't thought about what that takes. First Alcibiades is a conversation about knowing yourself before trying to lead others.

Plato wrote this as a dialogue that reads almost like a friendly debate. The questions Socrates raises about ambition and self-awareness still feel fresh today.

Is it better to persuade people or to tell them the truth? Gorgias is a debate about the power of words and whether speakers should use it for good.

Plato wrote this dialogue with Socrates taking on some of Athens' best speakers. It's a conversation about justice, power, and what a good life really looks like.

Is it worse to lie on purpose or to be wrong by accident? Hippias Minor is a short dialogue where Socrates argues that the person who lies on purpose might actually be smarter.

Plato uses this odd debate to make you rethink honesty and skill. It's brief, but the questions it raises will stick with you long after you finish.

A performer claims to be an expert on Homer, but does he really understand the poetry or just repeat it well? Ion is Plato's playful look at the difference between knowledge and inspiration.

Plato uses Socrates to question what it means to truly know something. This short dialogue is a quick read that will change how you think about art and talent.

Two generals and Socrates sit down to figure out what it means to be brave. Laches is a dialogue about courage and whether you can define it with words.

Plato shows how hard it is to explain something everyone thinks they understand. This short conversation will challenge your own ideas about bravery.

Socrates asks what makes two people friends and gets answers nobody expects. Lysis is a short, lively talk about friendship and why we need each other.

Plato set this dialogue among young Athenians trying to figure out what brings people together. The questions are simple, but the answers are harder than they seem.

Socrates recites a funeral speech praising Athens, but is he serious or is he joking? Menexenus is a puzzling dialogue that plays with the line between truth and flattery.

Plato may have written this to show how easy it is to use fine words to hide the truth. It's a short read that will make you think twice about political speeches.

Can virtue be taught, or is it something you're born with? Meno is a dialogue where Socrates uses a clever experiment with a slave boy to explore how we learn.

Plato packed this short work with ideas about knowledge, memory, and the soul. It's one of his most accessible dialogues and a great place to start reading him.

A young Socrates meets the old philosopher Parmenides, and gets his own ideas challenged in ways he did not expect. Parmenides is one of Plato's most puzzling dialogues.

Plato tackles questions about reality and whether abstract ideas truly exist. This dialogue is a workout for your mind that rewards careful reading.

Socrates spends his last hours alive talking with friends about whether the soul lives on after death. Phaedo is one of philosophy's most moving scenes.

Plato wrote this to show how Socrates faced death with calm and courage. If you have ever wondered what it means to live and die with dignity, this is a powerful read.

Socrates and a friend walk outside Athens and talk about love, beauty, and the power of words. Phaedrus is one of Plato's most beautiful and readable dialogues.

Plato uses a famous image of the soul as a chariot pulled by two horses. This dialogue will make you think about what drives your choices between reason and desire.

What matters more, pleasure or wisdom? Philebus is Plato's search for the right balance between enjoying life and thinking clearly.

Plato argues that the best life mixes both, but in the right amounts. This dialogue is useful for anyone trying to figure out what really makes them happy.

Can goodness be taught, or is it something you are born with? Protagoras is a lively debate between Socrates and a famous teacher about whether virtue can be learned like any other skill.

Plato makes this dialogue feel like a real conversation, full of humor and sharp turns. It is one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to enter Plato's world.

What does justice really mean, and what would a perfect society look like? Republic is Plato's most famous work, and it includes the famous allegory of the cave about truth and illusion.

Plato wrote this around 375 BC, and people still argue about it today. If you read only one work of philosophy, this is the one most people would choose.

What is the difference between a wise person and someone who just sounds wise? Sophist is Plato's hunt for the true nature of falsehood and what it means to deceive.

Plato uses a method of division to track down what a sophist really is. This dialogue will sharpen how you tell real knowledge from clever talk.

What kind of person should lead a country? Statesman is Plato's search for the qualities that make a true leader.

Plato uses a creative mix of myths and logic to explore how ruling is different from other skills. This dialogue is a thoughtful read for anyone interested in politics and power.

Socrates stands on trial for his life and refuses to beg for mercy. The Apology of Socrates captures his defense speech, where he chooses truth over survival.

Plato wrote down what his teacher said to the jury of Athens. This short text shows what it looks like when someone truly stands by their beliefs.

Socrates asks a proud teacher what it means for something to be beautiful, and every answer falls apart under examination. The Greater Hippias is a dialogue about beauty that leaves you with more questions than answers.

Plato uses humor and sharp logic to show that even smart people struggle to define the things they think they know. A short read that stretches your mind.

Three old men walk a long road and talk about how to build the best city. The Laws is Plato's longest work and covers government, education, crime, and religion in one big conversation.

Plato wrote this near the end of his life as a more practical follow-up to The Republic. If you are curious about how ancient thinkers imagined a fair society, start here.

A group of friends gather for a dinner party and each gives a speech about the nature of love. The Symposium is one of the oldest and most interesting conversations about what love really means.

Plato wrote this around 385 BC, and it still feels fresh. If you have ever wondered why we fall in love or what love is for, this short work has answers worth hearing.

What does it really mean to know something? Theaetetus is a dialogue by Plato that digs deep into the nature of knowledge itself.

Plato wrote this as a conversation between Socrates and a young math student. If you enjoy thinking about big ideas in a clear, step-by-step way, this work is a rewarding read.

How was the universe made? Timaeus is Plato's bold attempt to explain the creation of the world using reason alone.

Plato wrote this around 360 BC, and it influenced science and religion for centuries. If you enjoy big questions about where everything comes from, this dialogue is a fascinating starting point.