Term Papers on Précis Of Platos Meno

Term Paper Title	Précis Of Platos Meno
# of Words	955
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	3.82

Précis of Plato's Meno

Chris Matthews
PL070 - Philosophy of the Person
18 September 1992

Meno is a dialogue between two protagonists, Socrates and Meno, based on the latter's question "can virtue be taught or is it possessed by nature?".  In the end, neither of these two methods of possession are satisfactory to Socrates, rather he develops arguments against both possibilities.  Through Socratic reasoning Plato demonstrates to the reader his views on virtue.
The dialogue begins with Meno asking Socrates about the problem of virtue.  Immediately Socrates makes the overwhelming statement that he no more knows whether virtue can be taught, than he knows what virtue is.  He adds to this, saying that he has never met anyone who knows what virtue is.  At this point it may seem to be an irrational statement for Socrates to make, considering that he was known to be one of the greatest thinkers of his time.  We later learn that he is being very profound.  Meno, refusing to believe that Socrates is serious, decides to attempt to define virtue for Socrates.
In his first attempt, Meno defines virtue as different for many different types of people.  For example, a man should be able to manage public affairs, a woman should be able to manage the home well, et cetera.  Socrates' response is that he is looking for virtue, not many different virtues for different people.  Meno then attempts another definition; virtue is the ability to rule over men.  He soon sees his fault because managing poorly or wrongly is bad, and definitely not virtue.  Socrates then leads Meno to his third definition; virtue is justice.  Again, he has made his definition much too restrictive.  Later he expands, saying that moderation, wisdom, and munificence are also virtue.  Socrates shows Meno that he has just named a virtue, not virtue itself.  He is looking for the essence, the definition of the term that will apply to everyone, young and old, rich and poor, male and female.  Meno tries to define virtue one last time.  He says, "Virtue is to desire beautiful things and have the power to acquire them."(77b)  By beautiful things he means gold, silver, and honors in the city.  Socrates easily sees through this attempt and quickly labels it only as part of virtue, not virtue as a whole.  Meno finally gives in and decides to follow Socrates on his search for virtue.
Meno argues, "How will you look for it, Socrates, when you don't know at all what it is?"(80d).  Socrates quotes some wise men and women whom he had once heard speak on the subject, "As the whole of nature is akin, and the soul has learned everything, nothing prevents a man, after recalling one thing only -- a process men call learning -- discovering everything ...

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