Lysis is a dialogue by Plato, composed in the 4th century BC, that investigates the essence of friendship and love. The work presents Socrates in conversation with two young Athenians, Lysis and Menexenus, questioning what constitutes true friendship. Beginning with reflections on parental relationships, the dialogue explores whether wisdom and knowledge are prerequisites for being loved, and whether friendship is founded on similarity, utility, or a deeper bond. No definitive conclusion is reached, leaving the nature of friendship unresolved. Plato intertwines themes of good and evil, desire, and wisdom, hinting that friendship arises from the human longing for goodness and knowledge.
