Is Socrates A Teacher? Essay - 1,041 words

Is Socrates a teacher? During the dialogue between Socrates and Meno one of the questions raised is can Socrates be a teacher of virtue. This question, however, becomes more complicated when the matter concerns virtue itself. For teaching virtue Socrates first must identify its meaning and nature and then argue if he can teach it or not. Further on, Socrates comes to discuss his own capability of teaching and his defence here is that he, as a philosopher, has his own students, or its better to say disciples, whom he teaches better that anyone he meets in the street. Then it was not less important to clear out who, what individual, can be a teacher of virtue. During the conversation, Meno changed his points of view many times.


For example, his points of view on the notion of virtue. This process evidences that Socrates attempted to influence on him and stimulated a certain progress in Menos outlook. Thus, by means of the analysis of Menos changes I will prove that Socrates can be a teacher of virtue. From the beginning of the dialogue, it becomes clear that the issue of meaning and nature of virtue is important for finding solution in the question whether it is teachable or not. How can Meno search for knowledge of virtue if he doesnt know what it is? On the other hand, if Meno knows what virtue is why he should search for it? So, first of all Socrates asked if Meno knew what virtue was. Of course, Meno was sure he knew it. Soc:By the gods, Meno, be generous, and tell me what you say that virtue is Meno: There will be no difficulty, Socrates, in answering your question. Let us take first the virtue of a man-he should know how to administer the state, and in the administration of it to benefit his friends and harm his enemies; and he must also be careful not to suffer harm himself. A woman's virtue, if you wish to know about that, may also be easily described: her duty is to order her house, and keep what is indoors, and obey her husband.


(Meno, 70). These were Menos views on virtue at the beginning of the dialogue. Socrates set priority of distinguishing nature of virtue over Menos questions whether virtue could be taught. While discussing the nature of virtue, there were three possibilities mentioned: 1) virtue is knowledge, and if it is, if can be taught; 2) virtue is a habit and it can acquired; 3) virtue is a quality given by God or by nature, and thus it can be neither taught, nor acquired. The second and the third possibilities were discussed through the episode with the slave and finally Socrates proved that virtue was neither a habit nor a quality. (Meno, 80) If virtue was knowledge, then it should have its teachers. If virtue could have its teacher, then who was capable to teach it? The capability of Socrates teaching was proved by several facts.


First, Socrates was good at persuading, arguing and consequently, logically and analytically thinking. In Apology Socrates admitted that he was eloquent. (Apology 17b).These features, I think, ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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Essay Tags: virtue, socrates, meno, apology, dialogue

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