Reading 1, Question 1

1. What fault does Socrates find with Ion's art?
Socrates thinks Ion's art is not really an art at all. I agree with Socrates. To know and understand an art, you must be fully versed in that art not just specific poets. Near the beginning of Ion, Socrates asserts Ion speaks of "Homer without any art of knowledge. If you were able to speak of him by rules of art, you would have been able to speak of all other poets; for poetry is a whole". To completely understand an art and be an expert of that art, it is absolutely essential that all aspects of that art are known and understood whether high or low. For Socrates, rhapsodes were wise men who recited only portions of others poetry to gain fame and financial security. Wise men seek such professions while common men (like Socrates) seek the Truth.
Next, Socrates gives numerous examples of how experts must understand all of an art such as painters, sculptors, and musicians. For example, a great sculptor would know how to sculpt more than just one piece to be considered an expert of the art. I agree with Socrates. You cannot know only bits of an art if you are a supposed expert. In fact, Socrates calls Ion's art an "inspiration" that he simply utters for notoriety while a true poet sings from the "power divine". He goes on state that if Ion "had been taught by the rules of art, he would have known how to speak of all themes of the art". Socrates goes on to ask Ion if he is an interpreter of interpreters and he agrees to that title.
In fact, Ion admits to his deceptive behavior. He says that when the "audience cries I shall laugh and when they laugh I shall cry while taking their money". This becomes a clear indicator of the fault which Socrates sees in Ion's art. Rather than being an art it is much akin to Sophistry. They know just enough to entice, entertain and persuade their followers to continue to support their art. At the end, Ion agrees with Socrates that his art is actually not an art at all but rather a "Homeric inspiration" or infactuation.