Plato: Clitophon May 2026

: 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.

“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 Plato: 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. : The dialogue centers on Clitophon's frustration with