Dialogues · Character

Cleinias

A promising, well-born boy whose blush under questioning becomes the test case for whether philosophy can educate a soul or only embarrass it.

supporting

Also known as Dear Cleinias, O Cleinias, Cleinias Everyone, Cleinias That, Cleinias Most, Cleinias Excellent, Cleinias of Cnosus, the Cretan Cleinias, sweet son of Cleinias and Dinomache

First appearance: Euthydemus

As a supporting figure in Dialogues, Cleinias is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

A young man who is the target of the sophists' confutations.

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Cleinias is young, well connected, and newly the object of adult hopes: his family fears he will be turned in a wrong direction before his mind is formed. When Euthydemus asks whether the wise or the ignorant learn, Cleinias blushes, looks to Socrates for help, and answers honestly, only to be refuted and laughed at. He matters because his composure under that laughter is the dialogue's real stake — whether a boy can be taught to think without being humiliated into silence.

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Character Web

32 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Philosophers and Interlocutors
Extended Cast of Dialogues

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point

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Relationships

Socrates
friendship · positive
Cleinias appears in the Euthydemus as a young man being educated, with Socrates acting as… How this plays out →
Ion
social · ambivalent
Megillus
friendship · positive
Socrates
friendship · positive
Cleinias appears in the Euthydemus as a young man being educated, with Socrates acting as… How this plays out →
Socrates
friendship · positive
Cleinias appears in the Euthydemus as a young man being educated, with Socrates acting as… How this plays out →
Ion
social · ambivalent

Socrates
Cleinias appears in the Euthydemus as a young man being educated, with Socrates acting as his philosophical mentor.
Ion
Cleinias and Ion are both characters in different Platonic dialogues, with no direct interaction but linked by their roles as interlocutors.
Megillus
Cleinias and Megillus are fellow lawgivers in the Laws, collaborating with the Athenian Stranger on the new constitution.
Socrates
Cleinias appears in the Euthydemus as a young man being educated, with Socrates acting as his philosophical mentor.
Socrates
Cleinias appears in the Euthydemus as a young man being educated, with Socrates acting as his philosophical mentor.
Ion
Cleinias and Ion are both characters in different Platonic dialogues, with no direct interaction but linked by their roles as interlocutors.

Relationship notes

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In the story

Cleinias appears across 17 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Euthydemus
A young man who is the target of the sophists' confutations.
Euthydemus
Cleinias is the young interlocutor subjected to the sophists' tricks; Socrates later engages him in a serious discussion about the nature of good and happiness.
Laws
Cretan interlocutor who participates in the legislative discussion.
Introduction and Analysis
Addressed as 'Cleinias' in the discussion about the object of the statesman and the four virtues.
Laws
The Cretan interlocutor who engages with the Athenian Stranger, agreeing with his proposals and seeking clarification.
Book I
Participates in the dialogue, agreeing with the Athenian's points and representing the Cretan perspective.
Book II
Engages with the Athenian Stranger, agreeing with many points but expressing some reservations about the identity of the just and pleasant life.
Book III
Participates in the dialogue, agreeing with the Athenian's points on moderation and the causes of political decline.
Book IV
Engages with the Athenian Stranger, asking clarifying questions and expressing skepticism about the idea of a tyrant as the quickest path to good government.
Book V
Addressed as 'Cleinias' and 'O Cleinias'; responds approvingly to the Athenian Stranger's advice about colonizing a new country.
Book VI
Interacts with the Athenian Stranger, acknowledging the need for preludes to laws and agreeing on the importance of proper marriage alliances.
Book VII
The Cretan interlocutor who responds to the Athenian Stranger's proposals.
Book VIII
Engages with the Athenian Stranger, asking clarifying questions and agreeing with his proposals.
Book IX
Engages with the Athenian Stranger, asking for clarification on the difference between hurt and injustice and the complications of voluntary and involuntary actions.
Book X
Assents to the Athenian's arguments and participates in the dialogue about the Gods and justice.
Book XI
The Cretan interlocutor who engages with the Athenian Stranger, asking clarifying questions about the proposed laws.
Book XII
The Cretan interlocutor who encourages the Athenian Stranger to continue and seeks clarity on the permanence of the laws.

Chapter companion notes

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