Socrates and Ion

Socrates and Ion have a discussion when Ion returns from a visit in Ephesus. Socrates asks leading question with the intent of eroding the ground of Ions boasts. Socrates says he envies Ion’s profession, both because he is able to get all dressed up, and also because he must be able to represent the poets, especially Homer. Socrates asked (what I would consider) leading questions and then manipulates the answers in order to pull them out into a more difficult to support position. Socrates encourages Ion to get out on a limb, then he proceeds to make Ion look silly.

The strongest feeling that I get from this reading is the recollection of conversations with individuals who tended to treat the conversation like Socrates did. When ever I have realized that a conversation has moved in this direction I have bowed out of the exchange. This is not the type of conversation that true friends are inclined to have, but the sort of conversation which comes in the presence of an manipulative enemy. I think this is a beguiling method of conversation.