Plato: Clitophon May 2026

“Clitophon is characterized as someone unprepared to take ownership of his own beliefs. As such, genuine Socratic elenchus and genuine aporia are beyond him.” Cambridge University Press & Assessment Philosophy and "Scientific" Tyranny in Plato's Clitophon

: Many view the Clitophon as a "preface" to the Republic . It poses the very problem—the lack of a concrete definition for justice—that the Republic then spends ten books attempting to solve. Plato: Clitophon

: Unlike other dialogues where Socrates typically defends his methods, here he offers no rebuttal. Scholars suggest this may be because Clitophon seeks only to be told "what to think" rather than engaging in true self-reflection, making further dialogue impossible. “Clitophon is characterized as someone unprepared to take

: The dialogue centers on Clitophon's frustration with Socratic "protreptics"—speeches that encourage a desire for virtue but, in Clitophon's view, fail to provide a practical guide on how to actually be just. : Unlike other dialogues where Socrates typically defends