Plato

A detailed Summary of Plato


Plato's Meno is one of philosophies earlier Platonic writings, in which Socrates and Meno try to place a meaning and understanding of virtue. Meno himself is seemingly a man who is greedy for prosperity and power. He is an ambitious, upper middle-class person who tries to substitute his little knowledge to his own advantage by asking absurd questions. Meno embarks on their conversation by questioning Socrates on whether virtue can be taught. Meno gives three attempts to what virtue is in his opinion.

On his first attempt, he mentions, "...there is no difficulty about it (pg.119)." "First of all...the virtue of a man consists in managing the city's affairs...to come to no harm himself." Then he describes a woman's virtue as being a good housewife and obedient to her husband. Socrates, knowing Meno's reality and little knowledge about virtue, makes it everything but easy


Originally, I did not agree with Socrates stating that what we learn is a recollection of past happenings and occurrences. But now after numerous impressions, I believe in what Socrates philosophizes and preaches to Meno, virtue is something that cannot be taught and it is something that comes from the character of the individual. People cannot be taught virtue, and therefore I agree with Socrates.

Before Meno's third attempt on answering Socrates about what virtue entails, he begins to relinquish, and starts asking Socrates to answer the question and explain himself to Meno. I believe Socrates knows this, but has a little fun with him anyway.

Socrates says to Meno, what makes a virtue a virtue? Meno, having the confidence he does due to many lectures upon others and being an Athenian, replies that virtue is "to rejoice in the fine and have power (pg.124)." Socrates qui

Some common words found in the essay are:
Socrates Meno, Meno's Paradox, Plato's Meno, socrates virtue, virtue meno, meno's attempt, socrates knowing, virtue virtue, believe socrates, little knowledge, virtue taught, socrates meno, agree socrates,

Approximate Word count = 593
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History

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