In Webster's New World College Dictionary virtue is defined as, "general moral excellence; right action and thinking; goodness or morality" . It appears, by Websters' standards, that virtue can easily be defined. However, the true question in Plato's "Meno" is simply whether or not virtue can be taught. In Plato's "Meno", Meno asks Socrates, the great philosopher, whether or not virtue can be taught, or if men possess it by nature or some other way . Socrates says he cannot teach virtue because he doesn't know what virtue is . Socrates is a philosophical genius that can not only outwit his opponent, but he also has the astonishing ability of twisting a question around and re-posing it to the one who asked him the question in the first place. This is evident in "Meno", when he denies having the knowledge of what virtue is and asks Meno himself to define it. Meno goes on to list what he feels are virtuous qualities, and is quite content with the fact that he was able to define virtue and Socrates, the great philosopher, wasn't.

This is a total set up on Socrates' part and Meno is unfortunately the victim of Socrates' true form of genius. Socrates responds to Meno by saying, "I seem t

Socrates' ideas about true opinion and knowledge raises the question as to whether or not the person that possesses true opinion should search for the true meaning of what it means to be virtuous, or should they simply accept the fact that sometimes they will be wrong and sometimes virtue will come their way. Again, one could also argue that; should the one who possess knowledge seek the meaning of virtue, or simply be content to know that he possesses it? Although Plato alludes to these questions in "Meno", he does not clearly answer them. It is up to the reader to decide for himself. These are also questions that have a two-sided argument and are easily debatable.

S: ...reflect that Thucydides too brought up two sons, Melesias and Staphanus,

in Athens...or do you not remember?

o be in great luck, Meno; while I am looking for one virtue, I have found you to have a whole swarm of them" . This is where Meno's frustration begins to set in. Meno continues with his attempts of trying to convince Socrates about the true definition of virtue. Socrates rejects every example Meno delivers his way and Meno, in the end, walks away from the question. Socrates basis his defense on two notions, the first notion is that before one can teach virtue they must clearly define what virtue means. And two, since Meno failed to offer a clear definition as to what virtue means, then Socrates couldn't respond to the question posed of whether or not virtue could be taught.

The true definition of virtue, according to Webster, is basically moral excellence, goodness, and right action thinking. Unfortunately the definition isn't quite that simple. To define virtue, one must consider what moral excellence, goodness, and right action thinking means. For example, if we look at moral excellence we really have to consider that what may be moralistic for one person may not be morally right for another. Therefore, it seems impossible to apply a universal definition of moral excellence that will encompass the whole of the world. In addition, if we were able to achieve the notion of defining moral excellence, how exactly would we teach it? Socrates is not saying that virtue cannot be learned, he is simply saying that a concept, such as virtue, can be learned, but it can't be taught.

men...But, friend Anytus, virtue can certainly not be taught.

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Approximate Word count = 2201
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)