Plato s Dialogue The Meno - 2000 Words

Plato’s dialogue the Meno explores the question of whether virtue can be taught. This dialogue provides no contextual setting like other early dialogues do, and instead it begins suddenly with Meno putting forth the question of whether virtue is teachable. Unlike earlier dialogues that mostly revolved around Socrates questioning and refuting an interlocutor who claimed to know something, though the Meno does this to an extent in the beginning, Socrates attempts to offer a potential positive solution to Meno’s paradox; in this dialogue Socrates also introduces a new method of inquiry that he calls hypothesis in an attempt to search for an answer to Meno’s initial question. As stated above the dialogue begins with Meno asking Socrates whether virtue can be taught, and if it is not teachable he inquires as to how one comes to possess it. As in earlier dialogues Socrates initial response to Meno’s question is to claim that he has no knowledge at all of virtue, and therefore he has no knowledge of the qualities it possesses—such as whether it is teachable or not. In addition to this, Socrates claims that he has never encountered anyone who actually knew what virtue is. Meno asserts that Gorgias, a sophist who he seems to revere, knows what virtue is. If this were the case then Gorgias being a sophist, someone who supposedly teaches others, should be able to teach other what virtue is. Following that, Meno—who has interacted with Gorgias should theoretically be able to explainShow MoreRelatedSocrates Vs. Plato : The Essential Themes Of The Meno1633 Words   |  7 Pagesthe Meno, largely because the dialogue sits nearly at the beginning of western philosophy. Socrates and Plato are working not so much in the context of previous philosophies as in the context of the lack of them. Further, this is very probably one of Plato s earliest surviving dialogues, set in about 402 BCE (by extension, we might presume that it represents S ocrates at a relatively early stage in his own thought). Nonetheless, in order to understand the aims and achievements of the dialogue, itRead MoreThe Text Of The Meno By Plato938 Words   |  4 PagesIn the text of the Meno by Plato, the dialogue develops and attempts to answer the question of what virtue is, and whether it is teachable. The paradox explained can be used to discuss merely anything, and we can thus say that either one knows or does not know. If a person knows, then they cannot investigate or question their knowledge. However, if a person does not know, they cannot inquire about it which means a person cannot question for not knowing what they do not know. Plato goes ahead and resolvesRead MorePlato s Meno As A Socratic Discussion On Human Sexuality And Age1686 Words   |  7 PagesPlato s Meno is a Socratic discussion on the definition of human virtues where the main participants are Socrates and Meno. Other speakers in the dialogue include an Athenian politician, one of Meno s slaves, and Socrates’ prosecutor Anytus, who is a friend to Meno. Meno wants to understand the broad definition of human virtues and while visiting Athens he initiates the dialogue on virtues with Socrates. The discussion begins with Meno inquiring from Socrates whether virtues can be learned. MenoRead MoreTry to Persuade Socrates Friends to Save Him Against His Will1191 Words   |  5 PagesTry to persuade the Socrates`s friends to save him, against his will. Socrates Is one of the most colorful figures of the ancient Greek world, who the strangeness of privacy life have always been of special philosophical and political science. He was convict to death because he does not believe in God and corrupted the youth people to do the same. In Plato`s dialogue Crito, Socrates spent his last time in the prison. Crito is coming to save Socrates and have plans how toRead MoreThe Between Socrates And Meno1724 Words   |  7 PagesMeno was a student of Gorgias, and he has a long discussion with Socrates about what virtue is. Socrates and Meno wonder if virtue can be taught, Meno proposes that it may be a result of practice or an inherent trait, but before they can answer that question they first need to agree on what virtue is. Meno makes multiple attempts at a description of virtue and Socrates points out potential problems. A definition of virtue is not settled, which leads to the discussion about the problem of learningRead MoreThe Great Philosopher728 Words   |  3 Pages2017 The Great Philosopher Plato Plato is known as one of ancient Greece’s greatest philosophers. Plato was born in Athens, Greece during 428 BCE. Some people believe that Plato s real name is Aristocles, if in fact this is true he would have received this name from his grandfather. Historians believed that Plato had two full brother, one sister, and one half brother. They are unsure if Plato was the eldest. They believe that he was since he inherited his grandfather s name, and tradition was thatRead MorePlato s The Socratic Method2253 Words   |  10 PagesPlato wrote nearly 30 dialogues, most of which focused on his predecessor, Socrates. His earlier works focused on Socrates Theories, or the Socratic method, while his later works focused on his own laws and Xenophon s Hiero. Some of Plato s dialogues include the Meno, Symposium, Republic, and the Phaedo. The Socratic method is a form of inquiry and discussion between individuals based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and t o generate ideas. This paper is going toRead MoreA Life Sketch of Plato and His Works905 Words   |  4 PagesGreek philosophers, Plato must remain the best known of all the Greeks. The original name of this Athenian aristocrat was Aristiclis, but in his school days he received the nickname Platon (meaning broad) because of his broad shoulders. Plato was born in Athens, Greece to one of the oldest and most distinguished families in the city. He lived with his mother, Perictione, and his father, Ariston (Until Ariston died.) Born in an aristocratic and rich family, Plato s childhood was indulgedRead MoreIs Plato s Theory Of Recollection A Plausible Solution For Meno s Paradox Of Knowledge?960 Words   |  4 Pagesgeneral topic is Plato’s theory of recollection. Is Plato’s Theory of Recollection the plausible solution to Meno’s Paradox of Knowledge? Throughout many of his dialogues Plato often concludes that we cannot know something through our senses. He often concludes that we became acquainted with our knowledge in a previous existence. In Meno, Socrates states that, â€Å"As the soul is immortal, has been born often, and has seen all things here and in the underworld, there is nothing which it has not learned;Read MorePhilosophy1687 Words   |  7 PagesAnthony Charpentier Due Date: 10/7/14 PHI 307 – Ancient Philosophy First Essay Assignment Xenophanes, Socrates, Plato on the possibility of knowledge Skepticism – A skeptical attitude; doubt as to the truth of something. In ordinary skepticism this would mean someone who would doubt the existence of something. A difference between the two is normal skepticism is you try to get it clear in your head. Ordinary doubt - or local skepticism - can usually be tested - and even when it cant