Definition Of Virtue In Plato's Meno

In Plato’s “Meno,” Meno is questioning Socrates about the definition of virtue, and what it means to be virtuous. Meno, however, has constructed his own, and somewhat materialistic idea about virtue, thinking that the definition revolves around wealth, gold, and other items that represent someone of high rank. Throughout the story, Socrates provides Meno with a multitude of questions and examples, but never directly states what virtue is. For instance, Socrates proved to Meno that knowledge and learning is only a form of recollection. New, non-empirical knowledge is never truly taught, instead, it simply arises due to certain connections that help relate one thing to another.

Furthermore, instead of showing Meno what virtue is, Socrates more so shows him what it is not. Naturally, Meno’s idea of virtue revolved around rank, justice, and forms of altruism. As a result, Socrates began questioning goodness and justice. In a simpler explanation, Socrates questioned what it means to be good, as well as proving to Meno that everyone would in fact like to be good, and that no one would knowingly do something to truly harm themselves, because in their perspective, what they would be doing is right. Examples such a this threw Meno into a state of perplexity, and he stated, “before I even met you I used to hear that you are always in a state of perplexity and that you bring others to the same state” (Meno 12).
To elaborate, the main reason why Socrates is not giving a true definition of virtue is because he truly believes that it cannot be defined. Like knowledge, Socrates believes that virtue is intrinsic and capable of recollection. Not only, but virtue is entirely self-defined, which is another reason for the copious amount of questions and examples given to