Socrates initiates the discussion by describing rhetoric as the “art of persuasion.” But, Socrates argues, if the rhetorician has no knowledge of what he proclaims, it is a case of the ignorant attempting to teach the ignorant; furthermore, if he discourses on justice, he must have knowledge of justice, and if he has knowledge of justice, he is just. Consequently, he could not tolerate the unjust, which would be talking without having knowledge of what one was talking about.
