What was Meno's first definition of virtue?
Meno's first definition: Virtue is relative to the sort of person in question. For example, the virtue of a woman is to be good at managing a household and to be submissive to her husband.
What is Meno's first definition of virtue quizlet?
meno's 1 definition of virtue. *virtues are numberless, and no lack of definitions of them; for virtue is relative to the actions and ages of each of us in all that we do.
What is Socrates conclusion about virtue in Meno?
Upon investigation of the qualities of the soul, Socrates and Meno come to the conclusion that "virtue is wisdom, either the whole or part of it" (89a) and thus reject one of the hypotheses proposed by Meno (that some can obtain virtue by nature).
Does Meno think virtue can be taught?
Meno, remembering the two hypotheses proposed by Socrates, happily concludes that, since virtue is knowledge, people must learn it by being taught.
What are Meno's three definitions of virtue?
For example, the virtue of a man is to manage his public affairs. Meno adds that there exists a virtue for every action, age and occasion [71e-72]. (2) The ability to rule over people is the virtue common to all [73d]. (3) Virtue is to desire beautiful things and have the power to acquire them [77b].
What is the main topic of Plato's Meno?
The theme of the Meno is the investigation of virtue with regard to both its essence and our possibility of acquiring it, whether we acquire virtue by nature, teaching, practice, or in some other way.
What is Socrates view of virtue?
According to Socrates, “Virtue is knowledge” because through virtue you can live your life in the best possible manner.
How does Socrates define virtue?
Abstract. For Socrates, the virtues are a kind of knowledge, and the virtues form a unity. Sometimes, Socrates suggests that the virtues are all 'one and the same' thing. Other times, he suggests they are 'parts of a single whole.
What definition of virtue does Meno give Socrates on page 26?
What definition does Meno give Socrates on page 26? "Justice is virtue, as well as courage, temperance, wisdom, high-mindedness, and plenty more." What is the definition of 'figure' that Socrates gives on page 28? "A figure is the only thing in the world which is always found along with color."
Why can virtue be taught Meno?
Socrates and Meno much agree that there is no one that truly knows what is meant by “virtue” and because of this reason cannot be taught.
What is Socrates main argument against the possibility of teaching virtue?
There are no teachers therefore there are no pupils learning virtue from teachers (96c). Therefore, since virtue cannot be taught, it cannot be a kind of knowledge since knowledge is teachable. Socrates then posits that the deeds of virtuous men could be the result of “true opinion” (97c).
What is Plato's real teaching about the good life is about virtue in the Meno?
Like most other ancient philosophers, Plato maintains a virtue-based eudaemonistic conception of ethics. That is to say, happiness or well-being (eudaimonia) is the highest aim of moral thought and conduct, and the virtues (aretê: 'excellence') are the requisite skills and dispositions needed to attain it.
How does Aristotle define virtue quizlet?
What is Aristotle's definition of virtue? Disposition to behave in the right manner and as a mean between extremes of deficiency and excess, which are vices.
What is a virtue quizlet?
Definition: Virtue- an abiding disposition of the soul, or power that enables a person to perform good actions easily and to avoid bad actions.
How did Plato define virtue?
For Plato a person's virtue consists in his knowledge of the good. It's not that a person is knowledgeable about some things or at some times and is therefore virtuous in some aspects and un-virtuous in others.
How does Aristotle define a virtue?
Aristotle refers to virtues as character traits or psychological dispositions. Virtues are those particular dispositions that are appropriately related to the situation and, to link back to our function, encourage actions that are in accordance with reason.
What does Socrates say about Meno?
Socrates sarcastically tells Meno that Meno speaks as though he knows, thus distinguishing Meno from those who actually know. These people who merely claim to know a thing do not actually see the thing in its entirety. They only see the different parts of a thing and suppose that, by seeing the parts, they have seen the whole. This happens to be the case in Meno’s analysis of virtue. Meno lists various examples of virtue but does not pinpoint what virtue is. Socrates, therefore, says to him: “…don’t suppose that you can explain it [4] to anyone in terms of its parts, or by any similar type of explanation. Understand rather that the same question remains to be answered; you say this and that about virtue, but what is it?” [5] Meno is expected to stop evading the question of interest and to identify virtue wholly. Still, it looks as though Meno is struggling, and is doing the best he can.
What are some analogies of Socrates and Meno?
In the course of their dialogue, Socrates and Meno come across several analogies, such as the analogy of the swarm of bees, the analogy of shapes, etc. At first, these analogies appear to be helpful in the quest for virtue. However, despite the apparent usefulness of these analogies, Meno finds it difficult to map these analogies appropriately onto virtue itself. That is, relating these analogies to virtue without generality. He knows how to approach virtue while discussing the analogies, but again goes into plurality while referring to virtue. What, then, makes a precise characterization of virtue more difficult than an analogical description? In other words, is virtue too broad for definition? It appears that analogies do not guarantee comprehension. However, analogies attempt to bring the reader closer to the meaning of a thing, and maybe, facilitate the understanding of that thing. Plato seems to be accentuating the limitations of analogical thinking in philosophy.
Who is Meno Virtue Essay?
Meno Virtue Essay Meno, an influential speaker, is traveling through Athens when he encounters Socrates. Meno is a well known individual who has spoken in front of large crowds the meaning of virtue. He is a student who studied under Gorgias, another well know teacher of virtue. Socrates provokes a discussion regarding virtue when he states that, “I have never known of anyone else who did [know virtue], in my judgment.” This prompted Meno to stand up and prove to Socrates he could accurately define….
What does Meno ask Socrates?
In “The Meno”, Meno asks Socrates, if virtue is something that can be taught. This leads Socrates to ask him to define virtue since one cannot teach what they do not know. Meno’s first attempt to define the word leaves Socrates unsatisfied. Meno tries explaining that there are all different virtues depending on who you are and what you are seeking to achieve. So by definition Meno believes that virtues are simply stages in life that are specific to each person and capacity. Socrates believes that….
What is Meno in Plato's dialogue?
Review of Plato’s Meno Plato presents in his dialogue, titled Meno, the distinction between genuine knowledge and true opinion. In the text, he refers to knowledge as the form and definition of something that is changeless, where as true opinion can be altered and is not restricted in the way knowledge is by having standards of a form. Plato includes the characters of Socrates and Meno, a pupil of Gorgias, to discuss the nature of virtue and knowledge. The dialogue is provoked by Meno posing the….
Why is Socrates not giving a true definition of virtue?
To elaborate, the main reason why Socrates is not giving a true definition of virtue is because he truly believes that it cannot be defined. Like knowledge, Socrates believes that virtue is intrinsic and capable of recollection. Not only, but virtue is entirely self-defined, which is another reason for the copious amount of questions and examples given to
What are the four virtues of the Republic?
According to Plato, the four virtues are wisdom, courage, moderation, and justice. There are three classes within the city: guardians, auxiliaries, and artisans; and three parts within the soul include intellect, high-spirited, and appetitive. By understanding the different classes of the city or parts of the….
What is virtue in wisdom?
This means, in effect, that virtue is only virtue when it has its context in wisdom. As Socrates puts it, "all that the soul undertakes and endures, if directed by wisdom, ends in happiness.". Thus, Socrates and Meno have already reached an important and surprising conclusion about virtue. Since virtue is "something beneficial in ...
What does Meno suggest about Socrates?
Meno suggests that they return to the original question of whether virtue is taught, learned through practice, or inherent in some people's nature. Socrates, though he protests again that they should first try ...
What is the consequence of Socrates' idea that virtue is not inborn?
Socrates quickly points out that this idea has the important consequence that virtue is not inborn ("the good are not so by nature"). Meno, remembering the two hypotheses proposed by Socrates, happily concludes that, since virtue is knowledge, people must learn it by being taught. Socrates, however, is less sure.
Who agrees to tackle Meno's version of the question?
Socrates, though he protests again that they should first try to discover what virtue is (rather than how it comes to people), agrees to tackle Meno's version of the question. They should do this, he suggests, by means of a hypothesis. This is a second way around the problem of seeking what one does not yet know;
Who is the foil for Socrates' questions about public virtue?
At this point, Anytus enters the conversation. A prominent Athenian citizen and respected politician, he serves as a perfect foil for Socrates' questions about public virtue and whether it can be taught. Socrates questions Anytus about the standard model for teaching--there are experts in each craft (medicine, shoemaking, etc.), and they are paid to teach these crafts to others. Socrates then suggests (facetiously, we must assume) that the equivalent expert teachers for virtue are the Sophists, who "profess to be teachers of virtue and have shown themselves to be available to any Greek who wishes to learn, and for this fix a fee and exact it."
Who said that virtue is at least partly a kind of wisdom?
Socrates and Meno (and Anytus, who is largely silent from here on) have now concluded that virtue is at least partly a kind of wisdom, but that even the most beneficent men are not virtuous only out of knowledge (as evidenced by the fact that none of them seem capable of teaching it).
What did Socrates and Meno conclude?
Socrates and Meno now face a final problem: they have concluded both that virtue cannot be taught and that it is not innate (both parties agree that neither knowledge nor true opinion can be innate).
What does Socrates tell Meno to do?
Departing, Socrates tells Meno to teach Anytus what he has learned today. Previous section Sections 86 - 96.
Who said that virtuous statesmen are only so through divine inspiration?
Plato (through Socrates) is content to leave this a mystery of sorts for now, concluding only that virtuous statesmen are only so through a sort of divine inspiration, like "soothsayers and prophets. They too say many true things when inspired, but they have no knowledge of what they are saying" [my italics].
Is virtue a gift from the gods?
Thus, virtue is left as "a gift from the gods which is not accompanied by understanding.". Though this deep uncertainty may not seem like much of an end to the dialogue, the apparent emptiness of Socrates' conclusion is mitigated by the importance of the lack of knowledge in and of itself.
