I conclude that the Euthydemus is concerned to identify Socratic dialectic as only a part of philosophy---thus anticipating theSophist's conception of Socrates as the practitioner of a 'noble sophistry', (γ[varepsilon]νναíα σo[straight phi]iστiκ[Special characters omitted.] , 231b3-8) and the elenchus as a propaedeutic to philosophy, which purges the soul of false beliefs.