Source edition
Platonis Opera Tomus IV: Tetralogia VIII. Burnet, John, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1905.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA (per Perseus's terms)
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work depicts a dialogue between Clitophon and Socrates, focusing on the limits of Socratic inquiry and the pursuit of virtue. The narrative unfolds as Clitophon directly addresses Socrates to express both his admiration and his deep frustration. Clitophon begins by praising Socrates for his powerful protreptic speeches, which urge people to care for their souls rather than material wealth. However, he recounts how he questioned Socrates' followers about how to actually acquire and practice justice, only to find them unable to define its specific product, leading to confusion over concepts like "harmony." Ultimately, Clitophon criticizes Socrates for being excellent at exhorting people to virtue but failing to teach the actual knowledge of justice, warning that he may turn to teachers like Thrasymachus if Socrates cannot offer further guidance.