Meno

The Meno is one of the books Plato have written. In this book, one of the big problem it address is the paradox of inquiry. It deal with how human acquire knowledge. The Idea is that if one already understand something or one already know the answer for the question, then one cannot gain more knowledge by asking it. For example, if you know one pulse one is equal to two, then there is no point in asking that question since one can’t gain any more knowledge. On the other hand, one do not know the…

I am going to argue that the Doctrine of Recollection resolves the Paradox that Meno poses to Socrates. The Meno’s paradox arises when Meno and Socrates are inquiring into what virtue is. It goes as follows, how will one know that they have correctly identified the object of their inquiry if they do not know the object they are inquiring about? On the other hand, if you know what you are inquiring about then you need not inquire, because you already know. Inquiry seems to be an impossibility or…

develop into a definition of Socratic Virtue. Socrates believed that virtue is habitual and done repetitively. Also, he even believed that even death could not taint or harm it. To add, virtue was even seen as divinely given, as Socrates concluded with Meno. Virtue is excellence in acting the right way. Socrates believed or at leave displayed that virtue is a divinely given habit, which guides men towards good and away from evil, in other terms it is to behave with excellence even unto the…

identify correct ones. The Meno begins with Meno, a friend of Scorates, asking Socrates if virtue can be taught or is it an inborn quality that some posses from birth and others never will. Socrates and his friend then begin to perform an investigation into the nature and form of virtue. When they arrive at the question of how one may know and recognize virtue when it is found, despite not having knowledge of what it is beforehand Meno’s Paradox arises. While both Meno and Scorates agree that…

likewise be expressed by using the word “menos”, meaning less, to state the number of minutes before the clock reaches another full hour. Examples:…

Sophistry vs. Socrates Prior to the entrance of Socrates, there was a time in Athens where a group of philosophical thinkers called the Sophists corrupted society. These men were masters of rhetoric and had the ability to turn any argument in the direction they desired. A major component of their thoughts was based upon a term called relativism. In this essay, I will cross-examine the Socratic viewpoints with those of the Sophists. Topics that will be highlighted include each method of teaching…

Throughout our lifetime we are always in the pursuit of knowledge. This search of knowledge is part of being a rational thinking human being. In the “Meno”, Socrates is given a logical dilemma in the form of Meno’s Paradox that questions our ability as humans to learn anything at all. There have been many ways people have answered this dilemma. Socrates answers this dilemma through his Theory of Recollection. This may not be the best way to answer Meno’s Paradox and there might be a better way…

an example. (Republic, 332a-c) It seems that Socrates would need to have some amount of virtuous knowledge in order to suggest a competent counterexample. Socrates also displays some level of virtuous knowledge in the Meno. He uses the knowledge that he does have to challenge Meno into developing a comprehensive definition of what virtue is as a whole, rather than simply just listing off various virtues. Finally, in the Apology, after Socrates had been convicted and he was speaking before his…

dispel the fear of death. According to Socrates, there is a direct relationship between wrongdoing and ignorance and that all wrongdoing is the result of ignorance. “All wrongdoing is involuntary because it is due to the ignorance of the good” (Meno 77b-78b) Socrates uses two arguments to support his claim that wrongdoing comes from ignorance, the importance of obligations to morality and the idea of self instinct along.…

Examined Lives Today Arête, excellence, the best possible state of the soul. What kind of attributes does one consider when questioned about the excellence of something? One noticeably valuable and monumental characteristic of arête is religion and what it means to be religious. For this interview I chose to examine my mother, Sandy, knowing she would have the capability to produce knowledgeable answers relating to the means of being religious and the potential connections they have to…