Ion
Ion is one of Plato's shortest dialogues, translated here by Benjamin Jowett with his introduction. Socrates meets Ion of Ephesus, a professional reciter of Homer fresh from a prize at Epidaurus, and asks him a simple question: if Ion understands Homer so well, why can he say nothing about Hesiod or the other poets? Ion cannot answer, and Socrates leads him to the conclusion that his gift is not knowledge but inspiration, a divine madness passed like a magnet's force from the Muse to the poet to the performer to the audience. The dialogue is the earliest sustained treatment of the question whether poets know what they are talking about. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the opening pages are free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Ion
Ion by Plato can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Ion online?
Yes. Ion opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Ion free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Ion is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Ion in the public domain?
Yes. Ion by Plato is a public-domain work, here in the translation by Benjamin Jowett. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Ion?
About 27 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Ion?
Ion by Plato is filed under "Philosophy" in the Vinteuil library.
