There is something of a sophistical ring in the speech of Phaedrus, which
recalls the first speech in imitation of Lysias, occurring in the Dialogue
called the Phaedrus. This is still more marked in the speech of Pausanias
which follows; and which is at once hyperlogical in form and also extremely
confused and pedantic. Plato is attacking the logical feebleness of the
sophists and rhetoricians, through their pupils, not forgetting by the way
to satirize the monotonous and unmeaning rhythms which Prodicus and others
were introducing into Attic prose (compare Protag.). Of course, he is
'playing both sides of the game,' as in the Gorgias and Phaedrus; but it is
not necessary in order to understand him that we should discuss the
fairness of his mode of proceeding. The love of Pausanias for Agathon has
already been touched upon in the Protagoras, and is alluded to by
Aristophanes. Hence he is naturally the upholder of male loves, which,
like all the other affections or actions of men, he regards as varying
according to the manner of their performance.
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