Laches, concerning courage;
Charmides, concerning moderation.
(b) Dialogues written in defense of Socrates:
Crito, concerning Socrates’ fidelity to law;
Apology, a general defense of Socrates;
Euthryphro, concerning Socrates’ true piety.
2. Plato as Traveler (399–387 B. C.). During this period Plato made one short and two long journeys, and after each he returned to Athens. Upon the death of Socrates he went to Megara, where a former pupil of Socrates had a school. Upon this journey he was accompanied by other pupils of Socrates, who, as tradition has it, feared violence to themselves after the death of their master. Plato remained in Megara but a short time, and soon returned to Athens. Immediately upon his return to Athens he went to Cyrene and Egypt, and was away from Athens about four years (until 395 B. C.). The Egyptian journey had little influence upon his thought, but must have stimulated his imagination. He then remained at Athens four years (395–391 B. C.), and during this time he taught a small circle and wrote his polemics against the Sophists.
In 391 B. C. Plato made his first Italian journey—to Sicily and southern Italy. This marks the second criticalpoint in his mental development. For at this time (1) he came under the influence of the Italian Pythagoreans, and(2) he attempted and failed in connection with Dion[27] and Dionysius to erect his ideal state in Syracuse. He was sold as a slave by Dionysius, redeemed by a friend, and returned to Athens in 387 B. C., having been away about four years.
It is to be noted that Democritus and Plato were wide travelers, considering the difficulties of locomotion of the time. Both Democritus and Plato went to Egypt, and Democritus spent several years in Asia Minor (see p. [107]).
The dialogues written during this period may be divided into (a) the group of polemics against the Sophists, and (b) the Meno.