philosophy reflection essay

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Reflection paper 1

Hao Chen

UCOR2500-02

25/7/2019

Virtue and Plato-Meno

In the Meno, Socrates brings out the possibility of an individual’s way of thinking to

uncover knowledge. He explains the theory of recollection by outlining what he thinks virtue is.

He then moves further to demonstrate the process by questioning the slave boy. This theory

originated from the simple question “What is virtue?”1 When he questions Meno about the

definition of Virtue, Meno replies by giving the different categories instead of a general

definition. He lists the virtues, saying, there is virtue of a woman, of a man and of a slave. This

paper focuses on exploring Socrates’ theory of recollection and definition of virtue. While

knowledge requires actions, virtue cannot be taught and one cannot be guided to become

virtuous.

If only Meno had asked what sort of thing virtue is, through this inquiry they would

eventually have ended with what virtue could possibly be. Meno presents his paradox, saying “if

we do not know what we seek, how would we know what it is when we find it and if we know,

why do we still inquire.”2 The only challenge in this situation is that for one to come up with the

right definition of virtue, they must use logical insights and reflection rather than research. If this

1 Palumbo, Lidia. "Soul, Triangle and Virtue. On the Figure of Implicit Comparison in Plato’s

Meno." Peitho. Examina Antiqua 1 (8) (2017): 201-212. 2 Ibid

Comment [1]: Notate this as the title of the text.

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Comment [2]: Your thesis should more cohesively define your argument, and outline your supporting points.

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question was empirical, then the objection by Meno would be meaningless because it needs to be

answered by counting heads.

Socrates confronts this paradox by telling Meno that the argument was an “excuse for

indolence therefore we must not give ear to this specious argument, for it will make us idle, and

is pleasing only to the slothful.”3 We can understand this because not knowing can lead to

knowing but in Meno's case, one can never know what he does not know. Socrates then brings a

slave boy to use a mathematical play to demonstrate, amongst other things, that the way to

knowing is through inquiry. Even though he basically spoon feeds the slave boy (from the sound

of it) much of the answers, he still proved a valid point because, at the end, the slave boy saw his

errors and admitted he did not know.

Meno whom we know is the student of Gorgias and a political figure (a man of speeches

that is) would want to save his reputation not admitting his ignorance, Socrates proves this by

saying: “Had I the command of you as well as of myself, Meno, I would not have enquired

whether virtue is given by instruction or not, until we had first ascertained 'what it is.' But as you

think only of controlling me who am your slave, and never of controlling yourself, such being

your notion of freedom, I must yield to you, for you are irresistible.”4

Socrates considers the right opinion to be the one that lead people to make the right

decisions and do the right thing. This is not the same as knowledge since opinions can easily

escape form one mind. This is therefore different from knowledge since right opinion that

3 Marshall, Mason. "Socrates’ defensible devices in Plato’s Meno." Theory and Research in Education (2019): 1477878519862544 4 Iwata, Naoya. "Plato's Hypothetical Inquiry in the Meno." British Journal for the History of Philosophy 24, no. 2 (2016): 194-214

Comment [3]: Stay in present tense.

Comment [4]: Place punctuation inside the quotation marks.

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Comment [5]: Cite even if you are paraphrasing.

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influences virtues is short lived while knowledge is permanent. While this concept stresses the

theory of knowledge, it is closely related to the theory of collection in many ways. In his

conclusion, Socrates argues that correct opinion is prized lower than knowledge.

People can acquire knowledge through various experiences but one cannot become

virtuous in the same way. As explained above, we can understand this because, not knowing can

lead to knowing but in Meno's case, one can never know what he does not know. Socrates then

brings a slave boy to use a mathematical, play to demonstrate, amongst other things, that the way

to knowing is through inquiry. To further prove his point, Socrates goes into the theory of

recollection, he insists that the soul somehow knows everything in the past life and that when we

inquire as humans, we are only helping the soul recollect.

Here, Socrates implies that Meno had no control of himself and that; if he had he would

have asked what virtue was instead of whether it could be taught or learned. And Socrates subtly

discredited Meno here implying that, the slave boy admitting to his error and not knowing knew

him more than Meno the slave master did. Again, Socrates implies that Meno is ruled by public

opinion because he failed to admit he knows nothing, he also posits that Meno was simply being

foolish by acting as if he was all knowing to gain praise from the public. To further prove his

point, Socrates goes into the theory of recollection, he insists that the soul somehow knows

everything in the past life and that when we inquire as humans, we are only helping the soul

recollect.

Socrates uses the myth of Persephone in the following poem. “For in the ninth year

Persephone sends the souls of those from whom she has received the penalty of ancient crime

back again from beneath into the light of the sun above, and these are they who become noble

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kings and mighty men and great in wisdom and are called saintly heroes in after ages… And

therefore we ought not to listen to this sophistical argument about the impossibility of inquiry:

for it will make us idle; and is sweet only to the sluggard, but the other saying will make us

active and inquisitive. In that confiding, I will gladly enquire with you into the nature of virtue.”5

Socrates uses this poem, by Pindar, that the soul knows everything by living so many

times and obtaining all it could possibly know about virtue and other things pertaining to

knowledge. He implies that listening to sophists speak on knowledgeable things because sophists

do not speak the truth but simply persuade you to believe they are wise without tackling the

important topic. Also, this hint implies that the soul knowing all things makes all things

internalized. This is where it becomes confusing because, everything being internalized makes it

subjective and one can say that virtue is subjective but saying, we simply agree with Meno.

In addition, Socrates uses this myth to apply to Meno’s appreciation for the gods, in a

way he patronizes him knowing that Meno would instantly believe anything that has to do with

divinity. Socrates therefore argues that the concept of virtue cannot be taught in the same way a

father can teach new concepts to his boy. The example given in this story shows that

Themistocles successfully taught his son how to throw javelin and ride horses. His ability to

teach is therefore unquestionable. Nevertheless, he was not able to teach his boy how to be

virtuous. This claim is very clear.

Additionally, Socrates investigates the concept that people obtain knowledge both through

perception as well as hard work and reason. He also makes it plain that knowledge requires

action. One can be guided and come to knowing a certain matter, he can be knowledgeable. But

5 Iwata, Naoya. "Plato's Hypothetical Inquiry in the Meno." British Journal for the History of Philosophy 24, no. 2 (2016): 194-214

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virtue doesn’t really work like this. It cannot be taught and therefore it is not knowledge. From

this, we can conclude that there is no one true definition of virtue and that it is relative. But, we

can agree to the fact that it is internal, and it comes from within. How deep and complex is it that

even Socrates, the wisest of all men and most articulate couldn’t define it.

In conclusion, virtue cannot be taught and one cannot be guided to become virtuous. Also

there is no one definite definition of virtue. For one to come up with the right definition of virtue,

they must use logical insights and reflection rather than research. This has been demonstrated by

the recollection theory where Socrates argues that the soul somehow knows everything in the

past life and that when we inquire as humans, we are only helping the soul recollect.

You have many elements here of a good argument, and it is clear that you have reflected

thoroughly on the text and its themes. What you’re missing is a narrowly focused and clear thesis

statement. You need to bring together your separate points to create a unified purpose. You need

to outline supporting points so that the progression of your paper is logical. Overall you need

consistent editing for grammar and punctuation, as well as to cite information you paraphrase

from the text.

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Bibliography

Palumbo, Lidia. "Soul, Triangle and Virtue. On the Figure of Implicit Comparison in Plato’s

Meno." Peitho. Examina Antiqua 1 (8) (2017): 201-212.

Marshall, Mason. "Socrates’ defensible devices in Plato’s Meno." Theory and Research in

Education (2019): 1477878519862544.

Iwata, Naoya. "Plato's Hypothetical Inquiry in the Meno." British Journal for the History of

Philosophy 24, no. 2 (2016): 194-214.