Although there are clear ties to "Republic" thematically in terms of the discussions on justice, "Clitophon" has very different themes concerning philosophical methods, resulting in its classification as an independent work in its own right. Above, the identification of "Clitophon" as a legal study has already been mentioned with no connections to another dialogue. On the other hand, Slings labels "Clitophon" as a short dialogue according to Müller's standards. "Clitophon" is used on this view to criticize protrepticism, for the colleagues of Socrates were only able to gain slogans and motifs surrounding justice rather than a full understanding of it. "Clitophon" is also a warning of how to not read protreptical dialogues and of the dangers of relying on these dialogues to gain insight. Clitophon did not want to think for himself, but rather to be told what to think by Socrates. As a replacement to protreptic speech, Slings proposes that "Clitophon" champions elenchus as the mode through which to attain virtue and justice by reaching aporia.