Socrates, prodded by the impatient and defiant Dan, gives the boy a series of tasks and lessons. The central concept of "Soc's" philosophy is this: that one must live entirely in the present moment. Other ideas include the related notion that at no time is "nothing going on" and the idea that an appropriate time exists for fighting and another for abstaining from violence.
Urged by Dan's impatience, Socrates assigns tasks to the boy with a focus on living in the present moment. Other concepts include that there is never nothing going on and that specific times exist for combat and non-combat situations.