Philosophy Ancient Essay Examples
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What role does the thesis that virtue is knowledge play in the Meno? Is the thesis paradoxical?
In this essay we will discuss the notion that virtue is knowledge. We will do this by following Plato's own route into the discussion - a refutation of Meno's misconception of knowledge. The argument Plato provides to this end gives us crucial contextual information and allows us to see how Plato derives his doctrine that virtue is knowledge. We will look at the terms Plato uses to define virtuous and non-virtuous actions and analyse the connotations these held for him. I will then provide an exposition of the traditional formulation of the platonic 'moral paradox' before arguing that this paradox only exists if one misinterprets Plato's own text.
1. Desire for the good
Plato's Meno focuses on the issue of virtue - its nature and its properties. During the dialogue several definitions of virtue are discussed. However, the definition that seems to be settled upon entails the doctrine that virtue is knowledge. This definition is proposed as a response to Meno's suggestion that virtue is a term encompassing two elements: firstly that virtue is the desire for good things and secondly that it is the ability to obtain good things. By way of answer, Socrates suggests that, in fact, everyone desires the good. As virtue is not present in all men, virtue cannot be the desire for good things. Socrates' argument for […]
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What conditions does Plato expect a good definition to meet? Is he right to impose them?
In this essay we will be discussing the conditions Plato requires a definition to meet in his dialogue Meno. We will analyse the reasons for Plato placing a great importance upon the definition of terms before going on to try and set out these conditions in a clear manner. We shall then examine whether his conditions lead to a successful definition or if they are actually self-defeating and lead to the proposition that a great many terms are indefinable.
1. Why is the issue of definition so important to Plato?
Plato's Meno is superficially concerned with the question 'Is virtue teachable?' However, before such a question can be answered, the character Socrates stipulates that the term 'Virtue' must be defined: "I'm so far from knowing whether it is something teachable or isn't something teachable that I don't even happen to know at all what in the world virtue itself is. " Through this pretext, Plato uses Meno to pose two questions regarding the definition of virtue. The first is of the form 'Is X Y?' For example, 'Is virtue justice?' or, more immediately, 'Is virtue teachable?' Whilst Meno opens the dialogue by posing a question of this type - "Can you tell me, Socrates, whether virtue is something teachable?" - Socrates reproaches him for this and replaces the initial question with one of another form. This is a question of the form 'What is X', or, more specifically, 'What is virtue'.[…]
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