3-2C. Socrates’ Bizarre Replies to Callicles; the Radicalization of Calliclean “Political Philosophy”

not only do Socrates and Callicles agree fundamentally on the “problem”--the salvation of the erromenesteros and thereby of phusis from convention--but even on the ultimate solution, which is “to rule in the city.” It is only that Plato is much wilier about how to achieve this and that, in fully understanding the requirements of rule and therefore of legislation in the highest degree, he realizes Callicles’ aristocratic radicalism must be spiritualized; and similarly the form of rhetorical warfare for which Callicles is eager must be spiritualized, or intellectualized.