Now let’s look at the text (331e) and see if Socrates speaks into the listening of Polemarchus.

> “So tell me,” I said, “heir to a share in the discussion, what do you say that Simonides says that speaks rightly about justice?” “ That it’s just,” he said, “to give what’s owed to each person, and in saying this he seems to me to put it beautifully.” “And surely,” I said, “it’s not an easy thing to disbelieve a Simonides, since he is a wise and godlike man; however, whatever it is that he means by this, you no doubt know, Polemarchus, but I’m ignorant of it. “
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The first point to notice is how Socrates addresses Polemarchus as soon as Cephalus departs: “So tell me, heir to a share in the discussion…” At one time I thought that perhaps Socrates was being a bit sarcastic here, but now I don’t think so. In his immediately preceding speech Polemarchus had asked his father, “So I’m heir to a share in what’s yours?” Socrates has understood from this question that being his father’s heir is important to Polemarchus and that Polemarchus sees himself as stepping into his father’s shoes. So Socrates carefully addresses Polemarchus in a way that explicitly affirms the way in which Polemarchus sees himself.

The next point to notice is how carefully and respectfully Socrates aligns himself with the listening that Polemarchus has for Simonides. At the same time, notice how Socrates emphasizes the role of Polemarchus as an interpreter of Simonides. He doesn’t ask Polemarchus, “What does Simonides say that speaks rightly about justice?” He asks, “What do YOU say that Simonides says that speaks rightly about justice?” Incidentally, Polemarchus never says that what Simonides says speaks rightly. In his very next speech Polemarchus says that Simonides spoke beautifully. I will come back to this a little later. For now I just want to note that by attributing to Polemarchus the opinion that Simonides speaks rightly Socrates implies that Polemarchus knows what justice is (or thinks he knows) independent of what Simonides says.

Polemarchus then replies that Simonides had said, “That it’s just to give what’s owed to each person, and in saying this he seems to me to put it beautifully.” The substitution of “beautifully” for “rightly” by Polemarchus very adroitly sidesteps the implication in Socrates’ question that Polemachus knows what justice is independently of Simonides.

In his next speech Socrates begins by again aligning himself with the respectful listening that Polemarchus has for Simonides: “And surely it’s not an easy thing to disbelieve a Simonides, since he is a wise and godlike man…” But then Socrates proceeds to speak to Polemarchus as the expert spokesperson and interpreter of Simonides: “…however, whatever it is that he means by this, you no doubt know, Polemarchus, but I’m ignorant of it.”

Where does that leave us? First Socrates addresses Polemarchus in a way that respects the desire of Polemarchus to be acknowledged as his father’s heir. Second, Socrates repeatedly aligns himself with the listening that Polemarchus has for Simonides. Third, Socrates professes ignorance of what Simonides means and asks Polemarchus to enlighten him. In this way Socrates indicates by a question his desire to listen to Polemarchus answering his questions about what Simonides means, and thereby Socrates guarantees that Polemarchus will listen to Socrates’ questions.

Lance