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Section 531

SOCRATES. Is there any subject on which Homer and Hesiod agree?

ION. Yes, I believe there are many.

SOCRATES. In those matters where they agree, would you be able to explain what Homer says better than what Hesiod says?

ION. I would explain them equally well, Socrates, in the matters where they agree.

SOCRATES. But what about the matters on which they disagree? For instance, both Homer and Hesiod speak about divination.

ION. Yes.

SOCRATES. Now, if the two poets disagree about divination, who would explain those differences better: you, or an expert diviner?

ION. A diviner.

SOCRATES. And if you were the diviner, and could explain their agreements, wouldn't you also be able to explain their disagreements?

ION. Clearly.

SOCRATES. Then why are you skilled only in Homer, and not in Hesiod and the other poets? Does Homer speak about anything different from what all the other poets speak about? Does he not mainly speak about war, about human association—good and bad, laymen and craftsmen—about the gods associating with each other and with men, about the heavens and the underworld, and the origins of gods and heroes? Are these not the very subjects of Homer's poetry?

ION. They are, Socrates.

SOCRATES. And do not the other poets write about these exact same subjects?

ION. Yes, Socrates, but they have not written about them in the same way Homer has.

SOCRATES. How do you mean? Do they do it worse?

ION. Much worse.

SOCRATES. And Homer does it better?

ION. Better by far! By Zeus, he is the best.

SOCRATES. Well now, my dear Ion, when people are discussing numbers, and one person speaks better than the rest, is it not the same person who can judge both the one speaking well and those speaking badly? Namely, the one who possesses the art of arithmetic?

ION. Yes.

SOCRATES. And when many people are discussing what sorts of foods are healthy, and one person speaks best, is it the person who recognizes the best speaker who also recognizes that the others are speaking worse? Or is it a different person? Is it not the doctor who judges both?

ION. Yes, the doctor.