Ion

A syllogism is an argument that follows a specific logical structure. It uses deductive reasoning to get from premises to a conclusion. When Socrates uses the Socratic method with one of his interlocutors, he uses syllogisms to guide the interlocutor to a conclusion that they must agree to because they agreed to all its premises. For instance, Socrates uses syllogisms in “Ion” when he tries to get Ion to define what makes different professions different. He gets Ion to agree that different professions are different because they cover different domains of knowledge. Socrates uses that same logic to show Ion why being a rhapsode cannot make Ion the best judge of Homer’s poetry; for instance, if he agrees that he does not have the skills of a charioteer, then a charioteer and not a rhapsode is the better judge of the sections of Homer’s poetry that deal with chariot-driving. In this way, Socrates shows Ion that the profession of a rhapsode does not require knowledge or skill in the same way other professions do. This capacity to convince through logic and reason is why syllogisms make powerful persuasive tools and are often used in arguments or debates.