Demodocus (dialogue)

Part of the series on:
The dialogues of Plato
Early dialogues:
Apology Charmides Crito Euthyphro First Alcibiades Hippias Major Hippias Minor Ion Laches Lysis
Transitional and middle dialogues:
Cratylus Euthydemus Gorgias Menexenus Meno Phaedo Protagoras Symposium
Later middle dialogues:
Republic Parmenides Theaetetus Phaedrus
Late dialogues:
Clitophon Timaeus Critias Sophist Statesman Philebus Laws
Of doubtful authenticity:
Axiochus Definitions Demodocus Epinomis Epistles Eryxias Halcyon Hipparchus Minos On Justice On Virtue Rival Lovers Second Alcibiades Sisyphus Theages

Demodocus (/dɪˈmɒdəkəs/; Greek: Δημόδοκος) is purported to be one of the dialogues of Plato. The dialogue is extant and was included in the Stephanus edition published in Geneva in 1578. It is now generally acknowledged to be a fabrication by a late sophist or rhetorician.

It appears to be a combination of two separate works. The first part is a monologue (addressed to Demodocus) which argues against collective decision-making. There then follows a trilogy of dialogues (with anonymous participants) which raise three elements of doubt against common sense.^[1]

References