First Alcibiades by Plato. Short summary

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Socrates wants to help Alcibiades before he speaks at the assembly. In the course of their conversation they discuss the concepts of justice and usefulness. Socrates convinces the young man of their identity.

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Socrates comes to see Alcibiades. He informs him that he used to be alienated, but now that he has grown up, Socrates wants to help him figure out his intentions. He asks what advice Alcibiades will give to the Athenians at the meeting.

The young man says he will talk about war, peace, and matters of state. Socrates thinks that in order to do this, the young man must understand what is best or just in a given matter. Alcibiades says that he has learned justice on his own. As a result of their conversation, Socrates realizes that the young man does not know what justice is.

Alcibiades wants to announce to the people of Athens that justice and usefulness, are different concepts. Socrates believes that the young man does not know what usefulness is either, since he has not studied it. In the course of their discussions, the sage proves the identity of the concepts of justice and usefulness.