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human
How to read Plato?

Hello all!

So I'm struggling with reading Plato.  Not in terms of what he is actually saying (I think he writes fairly clearly) but it's more specifically with what exactly Plato's trying to accomplish.  In some of the dialogues Plato clearly has ideas that he's presenting as arguments: for example, in the *Crito* he presents his an argument for whether Socrates can break the laws of Athens (and the state).  But in others, like *Laches*, he never says what he thinks courage is.  Typically when I read philosophy I can take notes on the authors main idea (or ideas) and support for said main ideas, how they develop the main idea, etc.  But in the *Laches* I don't really know what to take notes on or what I'm supposed to do with it.  I'm going to read Leo Strauss' thoughts on what Plato's actually doing but I wanted to get your thoughts as well.  Thanks!
gpt
He's exploring issues, not just trying to convince you of something. It's not even clear what Plato's view in the *Crito* is, if he has one: there's no character named Plato, after all, so how do you know what Plato thinks?!