It may help readers of this book to have before them, for the purposes of orientation, a list of all the certainly genuine works with a note of what I take to be their real main subjects.

1. Apology: introduction/manifesto.

2. Crito: the implications of Socrates' ‘mission’ for the city of Athens and its institutions.

3. Euthyphro: on piety and wisdom/knowledge/expertise (Socrates consults a religious expert).

4. Charmides: on ‘sound-mindedness’ (sōphrosunē) and wisdom/knowledge/expertise (Socrates talks to someone said to be ‘soundminded’).

5. Laches: on courage and wisdom/knowledge/expertise (Socrates consults two generals).

6. Meno: on excellence and wisdom/knowledge/expertise (Socrates talks to a Thessalian aristocrat – and, briefly, an Athenian democrat, who is also one of his accusers: Anytus).

7. Ion: on excellence and wisdom/knowledge/expertise (Socrates consults an expert on the poets).

8. Protagoras: on excellence and wisdom/knowledge/expertise (Socrates confronts sophists).

9. Euthydemus: on excellence and wisdom/knowledge/expertise (Socrates confronts eristics).

10. Gorgias: on excellence and wisdom/knowledge/expertise (Socrates confronts orators/rhetoricians).

11. Hippias Minor: on the difference between excellence and other kinds of knowledge/expertise (Socrates talks to another sophist).

12. Lysis: on ‘friendship’, desire and the (real) good (Socrates talks to two friends).

13. Symposium: desire and the (real) good (Socrates confronts ordinary views of love and desire).

14. Phaedo: on the nature of philosophy (the love of/search for wisdom); life, death and the cosmos (Socrates talks to two members of his circle).

15. Cratylus: on language and reality (Socrates talks to representatives of two rival positions).

16. […]