Collected Dialogues of Plato, Vol. I

Cratylus; Phaedrus; Symposium; Meno; Apology; Crito; Phaedo

Cratylus examines the nature of names and their relation to the things they represent.  The dialogue contrasts the views of Cratylus, who believes in a natural correctness of names, with Hermogenes, who argues that names are arbitrary, a matter of human agreement.

In Phaedrus, Socrates explores the nature of love (Eros) and its role in the life of the soul. The dialogue also touches on the ideal nature of rhetoric and the soul's immortality. 

Symposium features a series of speeches by different characters at a banquet, each extolling the nature of love and beauty. Socrates’ speech, inspired by Diotima, presents a philosophical view of love as a pursuit of the beautiful and the good, culminating in the vision of the Form of Beauty itself.

Meno addresses the nature of virtue and whether it can be taught. Socrates, through a series of questions, reveals that knowledge is akin to recollection and that virtue is closely tied to knowledge. This theory of recollection suggests that learning is a process of recalling knowledge from previous lifetimes. 

Socrates' Apology highlights his commitment to his principles and his willingness to face death rather than abandon his quest for truth. Socrates, on trial in Athens, where he is charged with corrupting the youth and impiety, argues that he is not guilty of the charges, presenting his philosophical mission as a divine service to Athens, challenging its citizens to pursue virtue and wisdom.

In Socrates' prison cell where his friend Crito visits him and urges him to escape before his execution, Socrates argues against escaping, reasoning that it would be unjust and undermine the social contract he has with the laws of Athens. Socrates discusses the importance of upholding justice and the consequences of compromising his principles, ultimately choosing to accept his sentence. 

Phaedo depicts the final hours of Socrates before his execution, focusing on his thoughts on the immortality of the soul and the afterlife. Socrates presents several arguments for the soul’s immortality and the philosopher’s readiness for death as a release of the soul from the body. The dialogue concludes with Socrates' calm acceptance of his fate, reaffirming his belief in the soul's continued existence and the value of a virtuous life.