In Phaedrus, Plato (167) wrote that Socrates said at the outset of a conversation with the title character that "I am a lover of knowledge, and the men who dwell in the city are my teachers, and not the trees or the country." This simple and direct statement established the central them of the dialogue that would evolve, in which Socrates affirmed that it is from listening to and responding to other human beings and not in communion with nature that he was able to learn and to achieve some degree of knowledge and wisdom. It sets the stage for the rhetorical exchange which is to follow, in which Socrates will challenge Phaedrus to recognize that rhetoric, however well-organized and eloquently presented, is not a substitute for true knowledge. What Plato (and therefore Socrates) meant by this statement is that it is through the exchange of ideas and beliefs that one arrives at truth and wisdom, which may not be the end result of rhetorical discourse as it is usually practiced.
From the perspective of this writer, the quotation represents Socrates' strategy of disarming those with whom he engaged in argumentative discourse. He presents himself as a somewhat simple and direct man who can be charmed not by trees and the beauties of nature, but who is fixated on learning from other men what is true and good and noble. As McLean and Aspell (67) commented, in all of his dialogues, Socrates first draws his audience or fellow speaker into believing the he (Socrates) accepts the discourse and the concepts and ideas that are being offered as valid. Then, he gradually leads the other person to see a totally different point of view and to accept that point of view
The quotation is interesting because of its very simplicity and its capacity to lead the listener to believe that he is dealing with a man who, though well-regarded as a philosopher, may be easily swayed. The question, of course, is whether or not Socrates i
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