Socratic Method in Xenophon

Abstract

Xenophon is frequently criticized by commentators for failing to portray Socrates as truly Socratic, that is, as Plato portrays him, constantly involved in eristic duels culminating in elenchus (refutation). Xenophon's Socrates is a preacher or a pedestrian discussant of household management, but he is not Socrates.' The criticism appears to be based on a narrow and inadequate view of Socratic method derived principally from Plato's elenctic dialogues. Ryle aptly summarizes this point of view when he states that rule-governed concatenation of questions, answerable by 'yes' or 'no,' which are intended to drive the answerer into self-contradiction ... is what should be meant by 'the Socratic Method.' 2