In reading Plato’s Theaetetus, Socrates stresses throughout that knowledge is something that we simply remember from past experiences in past lives, and that it’s his job to help his associates unearth the knowledge hidden deep within their souls. He proves his ability to do this by asking questions, which in turn require the associate to think deeper, rather than telling them what it is, as he claims that he has no wisdom himself. Socrates also prioritizes truth and justice in his endeavours.
In Meno, Socrates discusses the definition of virtue with the titular character. Socrates challenges Meno to define virtue, and Meno states that each demographic has a different virtue, for example, “a man’s virtue: to take part in the city’s affairs …show more content…
In Meno, finding the definition of virtue was the focal point of the whole text. Socrates, despite having no knowledge, will continue to enquire about virtue throughout and is adamant in finding the absolute truth about it, even calling out Meno on his self-presumed knowledge of virtue; “This is a man’s virtue: to take part in the city’s affairs capably, and by doing so to benefit his friends and harm his enemies…” Socrates and Meno continue to discuss until their final decision is not reminiscent of Meno’s original claim, in fact they decide that, by itself, it is far beyond them. Meno, however, is now better off in knowing that he possessed false knowledge about virtue. Also in Meno, Socrates demonstrates his teachings to be those of good intention and of good results. Socrates does a geometry exercise with a slave boy who first answers incorrectly with confidence, and then after being puzzled by Socrates, recognizes that he did not know and was then prompted to enquire about it. Socrates then asks Meno, “By making him puzzled, then, and numbing him like a stingray, have we done him any harm?” to which Meno replies that it did not. This shows that Socrates’ teachings are not corrupting or harmful to his associates, something that he was accused of in Apology, but rather it makes them better off in living a life of ignorance that was disguised as
In Meno, Socrates discusses the definition of virtue with the titular character. Socrates challenges Meno to define virtue, and Meno states that each demographic has a different virtue, for example, “a man’s virtue: to take part in the city’s affairs …show more content…
In Meno, finding the definition of virtue was the focal point of the whole text. Socrates, despite having no knowledge, will continue to enquire about virtue throughout and is adamant in finding the absolute truth about it, even calling out Meno on his self-presumed knowledge of virtue; “This is a man’s virtue: to take part in the city’s affairs capably, and by doing so to benefit his friends and harm his enemies…” Socrates and Meno continue to discuss until their final decision is not reminiscent of Meno’s original claim, in fact they decide that, by itself, it is far beyond them. Meno, however, is now better off in knowing that he possessed false knowledge about virtue. Also in Meno, Socrates demonstrates his teachings to be those of good intention and of good results. Socrates does a geometry exercise with a slave boy who first answers incorrectly with confidence, and then after being puzzled by Socrates, recognizes that he did not know and was then prompted to enquire about it. Socrates then asks Meno, “By making him puzzled, then, and numbing him like a stingray, have we done him any harm?” to which Meno replies that it did not. This shows that Socrates’ teachings are not corrupting or harmful to his associates, something that he was accused of in Apology, but rather it makes them better off in living a life of ignorance that was disguised as