In one of his last dialogues, Plato examines the comparative worth of pleasure and knowledge.
Philebus is a hedonist who argues that enjoyment is the ultimate good in human life. He is countered at the outset of the dialogue by Socrates, who claims that wisdom and knowledge are more important. Never content to simply argue a point, however, Socrates then goes on to reconsider his own views and ultimately ends up with a more complex vision of what constitutes the good life.
Less dramatic and more contemplative than earlier dialogues, Philebus is an indispensable component of the Platonic canon.
