PSEUDO-DIALOGUE IN PLATO'S CLITOPHON

• Published in: The Cambridge classical journal Vol. 58; pp. 1 - 22
• Main Author: Bryan, Jenny
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01-12-2012
• ISSN: 1750-2705; 2047-993X
• DOI: 10.1017/S1750270512000024

Scholars disagree over why Plato's Clitophon ends without any response to Clitophon's criticisms of Socratic method. A close examination of the characterisation of Clitophon provides a potential answer. During the course of his speech, Clitophon shows himself to have misunderstood Socrates, in terms both of method and teaching. The manner in which he reports Socratic conversations suggests that he is more interested in Socrates' personal authority than in entering into productive dialogue. Clitophon represents the kind of young man who wants Socrates to tell him what to think and who will go elsewhere if Socrates will not answer this desire. Socrates remains silent in the face of Clitophon's criticisms because Clitophon has offered no thoughts of his own and, this being the case, there is no possibility of making elenctic progress.