Demonstrates that Plato and Xenophon ought to be regarded less as rivals and more as engaged in a dialogue advancing a common goal of preserving the Socratic legacy.The ancient view that Plato and Xenophon were rivals at least had the merit of allowing them to respond to each other in modern times the view that Plato wrote first eliminates the possibility of an exchange between the only two Socratics whose writings are preserved intact. Challenging the chronological assumptions on which Platos acrosstheboard priority currently rests the purpose of The Relay Race of Virtue is to show that Plato and Xenophon were responding to each other and that we can gain a greater appreciation for both by recognizing the backandforth nature of their friendly dialogue. Instead of regarding Xenophon as Platos inept copyist William H. F. Altman presents him as first blazing the trail for his fellow Socratic and then learning from Plato in return. By emphasizing Platos Debts to Xenophon Altman is charitable to both justifying Socrates belief Memorabilia 1.2.8 that those of his companions who adopted his principles of conduct would throughout life be good friends to him and to each other.