Socrates Vs Meno

I will argue that acquiring virtue is seen at both the cognitive level and the level of the heart. In this paper I will be showing that virtue can be found on both levels by examining the characteristics of two different characters in the philosophical works of Plato. These two characters are Meno and Socrates, from the dialogues Meno and Apology. Meno is Thessalian general that had the main goal in life to get rich and have power. He did not care about anyone else besides himself, and could not take anyone seriously (Xenophon). Socrates on the other hand was a Greek philosopher that was put on trial for corrupting the youth of Athens, was accused of being a Sophists, and genuinely wanted to know truth and knowledge because it leads to a happy
life (Five Dialogues ix). Before arguing that virtue can be found on both levels, one needs to know what both these levels are. Finding virtue on a cognitive level is the same as saying finding it on an intellectual level. Meaning that the person has the mental capability of thinking about it, wants to be able to possess it in his or her mind, and wants to fully understand it. When finding virtue on the level of the heart, it is more of the action of doing it. Meaning having to look at one’s self, going out and doing it, and actually finding out what virtue means is without just having someone tell you a definition or example. I believe that Meno only wants to find virtue on the cognitive level. He does not care about finding virtue on a heart level, because he does not actually want to go out and search for the meaning of virtue or take a deeper look at himself so he can find it. Meno wants to know the meaning of virtue at the cognitive level, because it will give him more knowledge and thus leading him to more power and money. In the dialogue Meno, Meno asks Socrates, “Can you tell me, Socrates, can virtue be taught? Or is it not teachable but the results of practice…” (Meno, 70a). This shows that Meno is curious in wanting to know if someone can tell him what virtue is or teach him. Although this might give out the impression of Meno wanting to find virtue also at the heart level, he does not actually want to. Instead of thinking for himself and taking a look at himself, he expects someone to give it to him. Socrates admits though he does not know and wants Meno to tell him what it means. Meno tries doing this by giving the definitions of virtue, or giving examples that show what to be virtues is. One example that Meno gives Socrates, “So I say that virtue is to desire beautiful things and have the power to acquire them” (Meno, 77b). This definition is shot down right away by Socrates. After a few more attempts at trying to find out what virtue is Meno finally admits to himself that he does not know what virtue is or how to explain it on an intellectual level. This is huge for Meno, because he is a stubborn person. His name Meno even means “Mr. I Won’t Budge”. Because Meno realizes he does not know what virtue is on a cognitive level, he actually learns something about himself; he is not as smart as he thought. Socrates, unlike Meno, wants to figure out what virtue is on a cognitive level and also on the heart level.
In the process of learning about virtue at both levels, Socrates also teaches about virtue. Although in the Apology, Socrates claims he is not a teacher, “And if you have heard from anyone that I undertake to teach people and charge a fee for it, that is not true either” (Apology, 19d), he is actually teaching people just by his questioning. Socrates is searching for what virtue is on the cognitive level because he has an actual love for wisdom, and believes knowledge and wisdom will better your soul. “For I go around doing nothing but persuading both young and old among you not to care for your body or your wealth in preference to or as strongly as for the best possible state of your soul…(Apology, 30b). This shows us that Socrates in genuine for wanting to know what virtue is on a cognitive level because knowing what virtue is will better his soul. In the Meno, Socrates questions almost everything Meno says about virtue, and demands a proper definition of it. He even gets frustrated at Meno over it, “Because I begged you just now not to break up or fragment virtue, and I gave examples of how you should answer. You paid no attention…” (Meno, 79b). Socrates is getting frustrating at this point in the dialogue because Meno will not tell him what virtue actually means, or if he truly does not know what it means. During the back and forth arguments between Meno and Socrates while trying to determine the meaning of virtue, Socrates is unintentionally teaching Meno. Every time Socrates questioned Meno or his definitions, it made Meno take a step back and have to think about what he was saying. This lead Meno to have to further explain himself, or completely change his train of thought. This type of teaching that Socrates is demonstrating focuses more on questioning then giving answers. It makes the student do some of their own critical thinking and
investigating. Today this method of teaching is called, Socratic method (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). Socrates showed this type of teaching many times in the Meno. In the Apology he was even put on trial for it. Meletus believes that Socrates is corrupting the youth in the way he is teaching (Apology, 24c). But Meno denies doing this, and as stated previously in this paper he claims he is not a teacher, but just trying to better his soul. This brings us back to the notion that Meno is actually trying to learn what virtue is by questioning Meno, so he can better his soul, but in the process he is teaching Meno.
Socrates does not just want to find virtue on the cognitive level though, but also the heart level. This is exhibited every time he put in the effort to prove that Meno’s definitions are not right. If he did not genuinely care to know the true meaning, he would have accepted the definition that Meno presented, and say he had a cognitive understanding of virtue. That is where the difference of Meno and Socrates come into place. Meno did not have the heart level of wanting to understand virtue, just the cognitive level so he could say he knew it. But Socrates wanted to have a deeper understating of virtue. He was willing to go out and search for the meaning of virtue. The perseverance of Socrates is shown in the Apology, when he follows the poets, politicians, and craftsman, so he can get a better understanding. This shows that Socrates is able to and wants to put in the time and effort to finding the real meaning of virtue. He will not be satisfied with someone else’s definition, or examples on what virtue is. He wants to find out what it means on his own.
Although virtue was never defined in the Meno, my argument that virtue can be found at both a cognitive level and a heart level can be concluded true. I believe the characters of Socrates and Meno in Plato’s dialogues, Meno and Apology, show this through their teaching, learning, and arguing. Meno showed us that virtue can be found at just a cognitive level. He only wanted to contain the knowledge of virtue so it could help him gain power. Meno had no intentions in going out to discover what virtue is. Socrates on the other hand showed us that virtue can be found on a cognitive level and a heart level. Socrates wanted to know what virtue meant, and was willing to put in the time and effort to find out what it meant. Even if it was going to cause him to be put on trial for his method of questioning, he believed having knowledge betters the soul, which is more important than body.