Plato's Meno Week #4

[Admin]

Based on the reading in Meno, pages 35-45

Please share Meno's ideas behind his definition of virtue; include at least one cited example from the pages listed above.

Please share Socrate's ideas behind his definition of virtue; include at least one cited example from the pages listed above.

[LivsTanski]

Meno changes his definition fo virtue twice within these 10 pages. He begins by saying that virtue is different from men women and children. The virtue of a man is to hold respectable statue in a state of office. The virtue of women is to keep order within her house by cooking and cleaning (So freaking sexist omg) Socrates points out the error of his ways, causing Meno to change his definition to "Justice" which of course is nonsensical.

Socrates on the other hand states on page 32 that he has no idea what virtue is, nor has he met anyone who does.

[Evan_T]

Meno begins by defining virtue as a relative quality, depending upon circumstance. After some questioning by Socrates, Meno revises his definition to 'the power of governing mankind' (p.41). Socrates does not explicitly state what virtue is, but by his questioning, we can infer that Socrates believes virtue has an essence (also p.41 - M: 'Will you have one definition of them all?' S: 'That is what I am seeking.')

[egrabrick]

Based on the reading in Meno, pages 35-45

Please share Meno's ideas behind his definition of virtue; include at least one cited example from the pages listed above.

Please share Socrate's ideas behind his definition of virtue; include at least one cited example from the pages listed above.

I think Meno thinks he knows what virtue is, but in reality he does not have a solid grasp of virtue. He keeps trying to come up with a definition that will satisfy Socrates, but, at least in this part of the book, is unable to do so. First, he basically says that virtue is what a person is supposed to do. He says that virtue for a man is running the government properly, while virtue for a woman is cooking and cleaning. He says virtue is different for every person, but can't explain how each person's virtue falls within the term virtue. "Every age, every condition of life, young or old, bond or free, has a different virtue: there are virtues numberless, and no lack of definitions for them; for virtue is relative to the actions and ages of each of us in all that we do." (Pages 37-38) Later, he says that "Virtue is the power of governing mankind." (Page 41) However, this doesn't satisfy Socrates either, since slaves can have virtue but cannot govern mankind.

Socrates claims he has no idea what virtue is. He says "I confess with shame that I know literally nothing about virtue." (page 36) From what I've seen of Socrates, he generally likes to show other people that they're wrong, without explaining what the right view is. Here, he's simply attacking all of Meno's definitions without making any attempt to come up with a better one.

[Ginger bread man]

Based on the reading in Meno, pages 35-45

Please share Meno's ideas behind his definition of virtue; include at least one cited example from the pages listed above.

Please share Socrate's ideas behind his definition of virtue; include at least one cited example from the pages listed above.

Meno starts out by saying that virtue is a bunch of different desirable qualities all bunched together into different subgroups of virtue. He then goes onto define virtue as "That virtue is the power of governing mankind." Which Socrates then critiques as too vague. Does he mean govern them justly? To a code of morals or laws? He then goes on to press him for a better definition.

[Evan_T]

Based on the reading in Meno, pages 35-45

Please share Meno's ideas behind his definition of virtue; include at least one cited example from the pages listed above.

Please share Socrate's ideas behind his definition of virtue; include at least one cited example from the pages listed above.

Meno starts out by saying that virtue is a bunch of different desirable qualities all bunched together into different subgroups of virtue. He then goes onto define virtue as "That virtue is the power of governing mankind." Which Socrates then critiques as too vague. Does he mean govern them justly? To a code of morals or laws? He then goes on to press him for a better definition.

I agree

[Ginger bread man]

Based on the reading in Meno, pages 35-45

Please share Meno's ideas behind his definition of virtue; include at least one cited example from the pages listed above.

Please share Socrate's ideas behind his definition of virtue; include at least one cited example from the pages listed above.

Meno starts out by saying that virtue is a bunch of different desirable qualities all bunched together into different subgroups of virtue. He then goes onto define virtue as "That virtue is the power of governing mankind." Which Socrates then critiques as too vague. Does he mean govern them justly? To a code of morals or laws? He then goes on to press him for a better definition.

I agree

Thank you for your agreement.

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