Meno

fellow travelers, like Meno. Meno and Socrates call this journey “recollection”; to them we learn best when our already existing knowledge is questioned. “You realize, Meno, what point he has reached…

Meno provides two hypothetical definitions of virtue to Socrates. The first definition according to Meno is that virtue is to rule justly. By stating that virtue is to rule, Meno meant that virtue was to be able to rule over people. But Socrates quickly reminds Meno that ruling over others is not a virtue in the instance of the slaves or the children. Furthermore, Socrates remarks that if virtue is to rule, then would it be to rule justly and not unjustly. Meno comes to an agreement, stating…

Paradox What is Menos Paradox? Does Socrates sufficiently respond to Meno's Paradox? Well that question is easier asked and answered. From what I understand Meno questions, Socrates something in the likes of “can you tell me, Socrates, is virtue something acquired by teaching? Or is it something acquired not by teaching, but by practice? Or is it something acquired neither by practice, nor by learning, but something human beings possess by nature or in some other way?” (meno,70a) at this…

The soul is an important issue present in the Platonic texts The Meno and Phaedrus; each one has similarities and differences from each other, which are going to be present in the following paper. I’ll develop the text by explaining how both texts have views on the conception of the soul, the conception of the soul seems to be based on the same foundation yet it differs in certain key ways. Looking at certain similarities, first I’m going to explain how in both texts the soul is immortal, then I…

The Argument for the Immortality of the Soul When Socrates and Meno are halted in their argument by a paradox, Socrates proposes a new idea that will solve the paradox and continue their conversation. He states that the soul is immortal and it has learned everything in past lives. Thus, what men call learning is actually a process of recollection. I will first be giving context as to how this idea came into the dialogue with Meno. Next, I will explain how he puts the same idea forward in Phaedo…

questions about geometry, where the boy would mostly just answer yes or no. Socrates begins with seeing that the boy does not know how to find twice the area of a square. So, Socrates knows that initially, the boy knows nothing. Socrates is trying to show Meno that by questioning the boy, all he has to do is look in and recollect to find knowledge. Socrates asks the boy question after question. The boy’s mind becomes “numb” and when this happens, Socrates asks the boy another set of questions…

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…

not worth living”. “True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing”. “To find yourself, think for yourself”. Socrates words only push towards the evidence that Meno’s paradox can be resolved. In the dialogue Meno, Meno himself is seeking to know how virtue can be taught, Meno started with the creation of what is now known as Meno’s paradox. Which is the view of what people should consider to be the inquiry of knowing and not knowing. When someone creates a viewpoint on a topic there will…

What is virtue? What does it mean to be a virtuous? How does one take the path of virtue and successfully win all the qualities human nature desire? However, definition of virtue is significant for everyone. According to the Oxford dictionary of philosophy, “virtue” is a quality considered morally good or desirable in a person (Oxford dictionary of English, 2014). These qualities include honesty, humble, heroic, kind and other charming traits in a human soul. There are approximately 4200…

postmodernists asking what exactly constitutes truth. The “what is F” question seems to be alive and well. Although I do not necessarily agree with his conclusion, I do believe that Socrates thoroughly shuts Meno down. In this paper, I will present how Socrates won the debate and why I do not believe that Meno ever stood a chance of winning. Before I can argue for my position of how Socrates won, I must first show the strategy he won with. My argument is that in each of his dissections…