Thermippos — The Complete Dialogue

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  • The Joy of Curmudgeonry: Thermippos — The Complete Dialogue
    http://curmudgeonjoy.blogspot.com/2012/08/thermippos-complete-dialogue.html

    The scene is the agora, outside the office of the magistrate. Socrates is on his way to answer charges of impiety. There he meets Thermippos holding forth confidently amidst a gathering of young men. Naturally, since death is on his mind, Socrates seizes the opportunity to discuss the subject with a man who seems certain of everything.

    Socrates. You agree, Thermippos, that all men are mortal.
    Thermippos. I do.
    Socrates. And you agree furthermore that I am a man.
    Thermippos. I have no reason to doubt it, Socrates.
    Socrates. Surely then you agree that I am mortal.
    Thermippos. I didn’t say that. You did. Don’t put words in my mouth.
    Socrates. I beg your pardon, Thermippos, but I have simply drawn what follows.
    Thermippos. Strawman.
    Socrates. But no true reasoner could fail —
    Thermippos. Ah, the no-true-Macedonian fallacy.
    Socrates. But, Thermippos, given the logical form…
    Thermippos. Define “logical form”.
    Socrates. … you must either accept the conclusion or reject at least one of the premises.
    Thermippos. False dichotomy.
    Socrates. I see, Thermippos. You’re an idiot.
    Thermippos. And that’s an ad hominem.

    Socrates ad-hominems Thermippos with a brick. The charges of impiety are dropped.