Final answer:
Socrates and Plato accused Homer and Hesiod of misleading the public and relying on emotion instead of reason. They emphasized the use of reason and the dialectical process in their defense of the philosophical life.
Step-by-step explanation:
Socrates and Plato accused Homer and Hesiod of misleading the public and leading them away from the truth. They criticized them for relying on memorized passages and emotional appeals instead of reason. Socrates and Plato emphasized the use of the dialectical process of inquiry and reason to persuade others. This criticism was part of their defense of the philosophical life and their belief in the pursuit of wisdom.