Meno

One of the founding documents of Western philosophy, Plato’s Meno recounts a dialog on the nature of virtue between Socrates and his pupil Meno, a rising star among the leaders of ancient Greece. They discuss how virtue can be recognized, where it comes from, and whether it can be taught.

Meno takes place in 402 BCE in Athens; Plato, Socrates’s most famous student, in 385 BCE wrote down his recollection of the conversation. It offers a clear picture of Socrates’s method of thinking on difficult topics, and it highlights Socrates’s quick mind, sharp wit, and skill at countering objections and resolving dilemmas raised by students. Meno joins 29 other Socratic dialogs, including The Republic and Apology, that have influenced philosophical and political thought to this day.

Meno, a wealthy and ambitious young leader from Thessaly, visits Socrates in Athens, accompanied by an entourage of enslaved people. Meno previously studied with the Sophist philosopher Gorgias. He asks Socrates for his views on virtue.

Socrates declares that the Thessalians, once known only for their wealth and horsemanship, now have eclipsed even Athens in their wisdom.