Meno free essay sample

Meno As to my being a torpedo, if the torpedo is torpid as well as the cause of torpidity in others, then indeed I am a torpedo, but not otherwise; for I perplex others, not because I am clear, but because I am utterly perplexed myself. And now I know not what virtue is, and you seem to be in the same case, although you did once perhaps know before you touched me. However, I have no objection to Join with you in the enquiry (Meno 80d). Plato, in his book Meno, defines whether or not virtue can be taught. He does so by presenting two different characters; Meno is Just a mere prop hat Plato utilizes so that he could convey his real messages through Socrates. The book is written in the dialectic style and begins with Menos question if virtue is teachable. Socrates responds to Menos question by saying that in order to answer that question, one must first know whether virtue can be defined or not. We will write a custom essay sample on Meno or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Meno attempts three times to define virtue however, each time Socrates refutes his definition with a counterargument. By the end of his third attempt, Meno calls Socrates a torpedo fish because he feels as if all the knowledge that he had cquired from Gorgias was replaced by questions and uncertainty. In the aforementioned passage, in the doxical context, Socrates admits he has this effect on others because he himself doesnt know . On the other hand, in the ethological context, Socrates is mocking the teachings of Gorgias and the Sophists. Moreover, in a broader perspective, through Socrates, Plato criticizes all who pretend like they have acquired all the knowledge attainable in this world. As Meno begins his questionnaire, Socrates asks Meno to reiterate Gorgias definition of virtue. He proudly defines virtue as the ability for a man and a women to complete their rightful duties and continues on my saying that virtues is different for all. Socrates immediately rejects this idea by explaining to Meno that he is describing the different kinds of virtue not virtue itself. He tries again by saying that virtue is the ability to rule mankind in a Just manner. However, Socrates argues that this is not a valid definition since Justice or the act of being Just is a virtue itself for the definition of a word cannot have part of the word in the definition. On his third try, Meno describes virtue as the desire for and the ability to attain good. Socrates once again refutes this definitions by saying that the definition of good varies from people. In other words, ones good can be someone elses bad. After their long and tiresome conversation, Meno somewhat gives up on defining what virtue is since Socrates had something corrupt to say about every definition he came up with. In return Meno says to Socrates, you seem to me both in your appearance and in your power over others to be very like the flat torpedo fish, who torpifies those who come near him nd touch him, as you have now torpified me (79d). In the doxical sense, Socrates justifies his standpoint and his reasoning by saying that he puzzles or confuses everyone for he himself does not know. In addition he continues on by saying that Meno himself claimed that he knew what virtue was once and now he accompanies Socrates to tind the true definition ot virtue. Moreover, in the ethological sense, Socrates addresses this statement to Gorgias and the Sophists. Gorgias taught the citizens of his town how to talk and sound like a wise man. Although these individuals have not gained wisdom they were trained to act like they did. For instance Gorgias taught Meno what virtue is but, he technically taught Meno of a virtue not virtue in its entirety. This in turn means that Gorgias himself does not know the true definition of virtue either. His ignorance of such knowledge implies that other sophists like him do not know as well . Socrates implicitly employs the idea that it is not right for one to preach of a concept unless one fully understands it. Through Socrates Plato conveys the idea that one must ractice what the preach. Socrates creates doubts in others minds because he himself is doubtful about many things in the world. However, Gorgias and the other Sophists like him preach of what they do not know and cannot practice it for themselves since they do not know of what they preaching. Through Socrates, Plato conveys the irony of the situation to his readers. Socrates was executed in 399 B. C because he was accused of corrupting the youth. Nontheless, it is ironic that the Sophists were actually the ones that were corrupting the youths with false nformation while Socrates was preaching true knowledge. Through the aporetic platonic dialogues, Plato intends for the readers to be engaged in the discussion Meno and Socrates have. This engagement allows the readers to experience and attempt to fgure out the meaning of virtue and whether it is teachable or not. Plato intends for his readers to remember the questions that Socrates asked to arrive at each and every one of his answers. At the conclusion of this Platonic Dialogue, Plato wants his readers to philosophers themselves and tackle everyday life situations hrough this questions rather than pretending to know what to do. Ultimately, none of the words in the Meno should be taken at face value. Each and every word in the text has a deeper meaning whether it be doxical, ethnological, mythical or ironic. Plato has a purpose for all the events in the book. Although Meno called Socrates a torpedo fish to make fun of his questionares, the counterargument Socrates used was a clever blow to the Sophists. Through his bewildering work, Plato inspires all his readers to view the world in a philosophical manner.