First Socrates and Hippias discuss why previous intellectuals did not involve themselves in public affairs. Hippis thinks that the new generation of thinkers have improved their skill over their predecessors. They were simply unable to participate in public affairs like the sophists. In fact the large sums of money that they are making is a testament to their abilities. Hippias claims to have made more money than any other two sophists together.

Strangely though Hippias has visited Sparta the most of any city but has not made any money from his visits. The law is that the Spartans cannot get an education that goes agains their customs. The law is mean to be beneficial, and if the Spartans will not get an education from the most brilliant teacher, then they are lawbreakers. I suspect this part is meant to hint that the Spartans were clever enough to not get educated by Hippias.

They then start discussing the main subject of the dialogue, what the fine is. There are many fine things, but what is it that makes them all fine? As in Euthyphro, Hippias will give an answer and continue to change it when Socrates asks him. Hippias seems to struggle with conceiving of a central concept that all fine things have in common and will frequently continue to give examples of things that are fine, instead of defining the fine.

First, Hippias says a fine girl is a fine thing. But what is it that makes things fine? What is added to them? Then gold is fine. But there are fine things without gold, such as statues by master craftsmen that use other materials such as ivory. Then ivory is also fine. Maybe what is appropriate for a thing is fine. Then there are cases when wood is more fine than gold, such as spoons for stirring a pot.

Then fine is in comparison. One is more fine than the other. Then all is foul in comparison with the gods.

But we want to find what is fine in everything at all times. Hippias says to be honored, healthy, to reach old age, to make a memorial to your parents at their death and be honored by your children at your death, that is a fine thing for everyone at all times. Is it fine for the gods to die and be buried by their children? No, then it's not fine for everyone.

The fine is what when added to things make them seem fine. But there are times when we consider things fine only when they actually are so and are not just perceived as. Are there even any qualities that are always perceived and cannot be percepted erronously? Things in themselves?

Perhaps the fine is ability to do things. What about the ability to do bad things? The fine is the ability to do good things, it is the beneficial.

What is pleasant in sight and sound is a fine thing. This combination of perceptions has Socrates explain to Hippias the difference between union and intersection which he struggles with. Two numbers can each be odd but both even.

Finally, Hippias goes back to simply giving an example of a thing he considers fine, making a well and fine speech. Socrates says if he gave this answer then his debater would mock him, how could he tell if a speech is fine if he cannot explain what the fine is?

Observations: Hippias is the first person to express heterosexual sentiment "a fine girl is a fine thing" in all my readings of Plato, does his portrayal mean something? This another fault of the sophists, the lack of appreciation for the aesthethics of young men? Maybe when I read Symposium I will find out more.

Even Euthydemus and Dionysodorus were portrayed as more clever than Hippias.

In this dialogue and many others Socrates will stress the difference between the effect a thing causes and the thing itself. Plato thinks this is an important concept to keep in mind.

As with any dialogue where Socrates debates a fool, I think it should be stressed that mocking them is a grave mistake, it should instead be taken as a warning of the mistakes we can make.