What are menos three definitions of virtue?
Meno provides three definitions for virtue during the course of the dialogue: (1) He lists instances of virtuous conduct for men, women, children and so on. (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].
In what way is Meno’s first definition of virtue self serving?
Meno next suggests that virtue is being able to rule over people, but Socrates dismisses this suggestion on two grounds: first, it is not virtuous for slaves or children to rule over people, and second, ruling is virtuous only if it is done justly. This response prompts Meno to define virtue as justice.
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. And the same may be said to vice. virtue of man, woman, child, father, master, slave, etc.
Why does Socrates reject Meno’s initial definition of virtue?
Socrates again rejects the definition that Meno offers on the basis that virtue remains the same in all human beings whether their role is to rule over others, as in the case of masters, or to obey others, as in the case of children and slaves.
How does Plato define virtue?
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.
What is virtue according to Socrates?
According to Socrates, “Virtue is knowledge” because through virtue you can live your life in the best possible manner. Virtue is the best condition of soul. If you do actions blindly you can never be satisfied and happy. The word ‘virtue’ translates ‘arete’ which means excellence in Greek.
What is Meno’s paradox?
An Objection to Inquiry The argument known as “Meno’s Paradox” can be reformulated as follows: If you know what you’re looking for, inquiry is unnecessary. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, inquiry is impossible. Therefore, inquiry is either unnecessary or impossible.
What is Meno’s reply Socrates analogy in other words what is Meno’s second attempt to define virtue?
Meno again attempts to define virtue, this time as “desiring fine things and being able to acquire them” (77b). Socrates argues that no one desires what is not good, and that therefore the definition reduces to “the power of acquiring good things” (78c).
What is Meno’s second definition of virtue in the dialogue?
He argues that when Meno points to several things as instances of virtue, there must be something they all have in common, which is why they are all called virtues. A good definition of a concept should identify this common core or essence. Meno’s second definition: Virtue is the ability to rule men.
What does Socrates question one of Meno’s servant boys about?
Socrates asks Meno to consider whether good things must be acquired virtuously in order to be really good. Socrates leads onto the question of whether virtue is one thing or many.
Why is Socrates not satisfied with Meno’s first answer to the question what is virtue?
4. Socrates cannot answer Meno’s initial question ‘Is virtue teachable? ‘ because: he does not know what virtue is.
What was the second definition of virtue in Meno?
Meno’s 2nd definition of virtue: Virtue is the ability to rule men. This may strike a modern reader as rather odd, but the thinking behind it is probably something like this: Virtue is what makes possible the fulfillment of one’s purpose.
What did Socrates Tell Meno about the pursuit of virtue?
Meno continues by saying that there is a virtue for women and children as well, these virtues differing greatly from the virtues of men. Socrates seems unimpressed. He tells Meno that there must be some singular ideal of virtue and not merely an inexhaustible list of examples.
How is a man virtue different from a woman’s Virtue?
Meno says that a man virtue is different from a woman’s virtue, which is also different from a child’s virtue and so on. Socrates wants Meno to tell him what is the common characteristic that all virtues share, whereas is a man’s virtue, a woman’s virtue, etc. have in common in order to be considered a virtue.
What was the question at the beginning of Meno?
At the beginning, Meno poses the question of whether or not virtue is knowledge (which later develops into questions of whether it can be learned).
