Similarities Between Meno And Socrates

Nishant Pandey History of Ancient Greek Philosophy Professor Ravi Sharma In 80D Meno asks: “How will you look for it, Socrates, when you do not know at all what it is? How will you aim to search for something you do not know at all? If you should meet with it, how will you know that this is the thing that you did not know?” I believe this question warrants an in-depth inquiry of general sorts. Meno asked this question when he could not define a standard of virtue like Socrates had asked. That is why it’s easier to think of this question as just a result of frustration and not as a legitimate inquiry, however, I do believe Meno was frustrated when he asked the question. Meno asks Socrates, how will he look for virtue and its definition? I think it’s a good question
I think the story proposed by Socrates is not exactly consistent with his views in the Euthyphro but they still are somewhat similar. I think, Socrates is genuinely trying to find a meaning for piety even though he come off as a person who is trying to off-putting. And since by the end of the Euthyphro he has not been able to find the answer to what is piety he does not declare himself a pious or impious person in the Apology. However, in the Apology he does believe that the oracle had given him some objective to find a person wiser than him. If we do take him at his word, then what he does in Meno is consistent with his behavior in other works. Although I do believe that Socrates had another motive to go out of his way talk to people who he considers wise. After debates with those people he starts to think that indeed he is wiser than all the people in Athens. There could be two reasons for him to do this either he wants to prove the oracle wrong or that he wants to confirm the oracle’s words and both of those thoughts are consistent with his