Free Essays,College Free Essays,Free College Essays at Anti Essays

Webster’s New World College Dictionary defines virtue as, “general moral excellence; right action and thinking; goodness or morality”. According to Webster’s virtue can be restricted to only a few words; however when we take a look at Plato’s “Meno” the meaning is not as simple and straightforward. Throughout the dialogue between Socrates and Meno they try and come to a conclusion of first of all if excellence, virtue, arête is knowledge and if so can it be taught. After reading Plato’s “Meno” I realize that Socrates believed that excellence is not something as clear-cut as tying a knot or some other talent easily taught, but rather another form of knowledge, something individuals must discover themselves. I find that I favor this idea that excellence is not something as feasible as things that are taught or learned. Excellence is something we must search for deep within and set out on our own personal journey to find. If we think we can find it in some textbook or educational course then we are greatly mistaken.
As I read Plato’s “Meno” it occurred to me that Socrates never clearly depicted his own opinions on whether excellence can or cannot be taught. However, through his explanations it is apparent that Socrates felt that excellence is knowledge but is incapable of being taught in the traditional sense. Webster’s defines knowledge as, “the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association; the circumstance or condition of apprehending truth or fact through reasoning”. According to Socrates as he conveys to Meno, “If excellence is something in the soul and is always beneficial, it must be knowledge…excellence being beneficial, must be a kind of practical wisdom” (Meno 88d). Socrates goes on to portray that good people are not born with goodness but rather acquire it throughout their lifetime (Meno 89c). This implies Socrates’ belief that excellence and knowledge are one and the same.
However...