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Section 532

SOCRATES. Is it not generally true in all arts that the same person who is a competent judge of the one who speaks well is also a competent judge of the one who speaks poorly? For if a person cannot recognize the one who speaks poorly, he will surely not recognize the one who speaks well about the same subject.

ION. That is true.

SOCRATES. Therefore, the same man is skilled in both?

ION. Yes.

SOCRATES. And you say that Homer and the other poets, including Hesiod and Archilochus, speak about the same things, but not equally well. Homer speaks well, while the others speak worse.

ION. And I speak the truth.

SOCRATES. But if you recognize that Homer speaks well, you must also recognize that the others speak worse than he does.

ION. It seems so.

SOCRATES. Excellent! Then if we say that Ion is skilled concerning Homer, we must also say he is skilled concerning the other poets. For you agreed that the same person is a competent judge of all who speak on the same subjects.

ION. Then how do you explain this, Socrates: when anyone discusses any other poet, I pay no attention. I have nothing to contribute and I simply fall asleep. But as soon as anyone mentions Homer, I immediately wake up, pay close attention, and have plenty to say.

SOCRATES. That is not difficult to guess, my friend. It is obvious to everyone that you do not speak about Homer by art or by knowledge. If you were speaking by an art, you would be able to speak about all the other poets as well. Let me explain. Is there not an entire art of poetry?

ION. Yes, there is.

SOCRATES. And when someone considers any other entire art, isn't the method of inquiry the same? Let me give you an example, Ion.

ION. By Zeus, Socrates, please do! I love hearing you wise men speak.

SOCRATES. I wish we were wise, Ion. But you rhapsodes and actors, and the poets whose songs you sing, are the wise ones. I only speak the truth as a common man. Let us look at what I just said. Does it not hold true for painting, that there is a whole art of painting?

ION. Yes.