Meno II is a dialogue between Socrates and Meno, a young man from Thessaly. Meno is trying to determine whether virtue can be taught or if it is something that is innate. Socrates argues that virtue is something that can be taught, and he uses a series of questions and examples to prove his point. He begins by asking Meno what virtue is, and Meno responds that it is the ability to rule over others. Socrates then refutes this definition by pointing out that it is possible to rule without being virtuous. He then goes on to explain that virtue is a kind of knowledge, and that it can be acquired through teaching and practice. He also argues that virtue is not something that can be inherited, but rather something that must be learned. Finally, Socrates concludes that virtue is something that can be taught, and that it is the result of a combination of knowledge and practice.
By Socrates · First published -399 · Genre: Philosophy, Classical Literature, Historical Fiction