Meno-Plato Essay

Meno begins his quest to experience Socrates develop truth by genius by stating that having fine-looking things is to have impartiality. So I say that justice is to inclination scenic things and have the function to acquire them (77b). To suffice him to beneathstand that this state handst is non complete, Socrates inquires or so specific feature of speechs that might comprise having aboutthing gorgeous. These characteristics admit wealth, a position of honor, justice, and the avocation of happiness. still(prenominal) in perfect combination to either of these specific characteristics assert right as a whole (77a) To desire beautiful things means to secure a wide thing for oneself, according to Socrates. Under this explanation, every men desire unafraid things and the men who desire bad things want to piddle bad things for some benefit scorn the fact that misery is a likely result. Therefore the act of desiring is with the intention of move happiness as a impartiality.No one thus wants what is bad, Meno, unless he wants to be such. For what else is being miserable but to desire bad things and secure them? (78a). This characteristic of attempting to have happiness through securing good things and having power over them is a component of virtue as a whole (77a). wealthiness and positions of power, under Socrates definition of virtue as a whole (77a), atomic number 18 only considered to be components of the nature of virtue if they argon accomplished through just means.It seems then that the acquisition mustiness be tended to(p) by justice or frugality or piety or some other part of virtue if it is not, it volition not be virtue, even though it go forths good things. (78d-e) this reveals that the intention and attend to of acquiring good things is important to the nature of virtue as a whole. Without just process wealth nor positions of honor are not attributes of virtue because regardless of their signifi pottyce as good or beautiful, they cannot be actually appreciated as virtuous without morally righteous intentions.Then to provide these goods would not be virtue anymore than not to provide these goods would not to be virtue any more than not to provide them, but apparently whatever is through with(p) with justice will be virtue (79a) justice and good intention are required to be the basis of any good thing in tack for it to be considered truly virtuous. However, in trustworthy response to Menos search to turn in the nature of virtue Socrates states that although that virtue as a whole is still under question.In order to understand virtue you must understand each characteristic that makes up virtue. that by answering in terms of the parts of virtue you can make its nature clear (79e) virtuousness is not defined by any one definition, rather it is the characteristics and process of attaining these characteristics that comprises the nature of virtue. Socrates refutes Menos assertion that to a ttain beautiful things is to have virtue.Through this rejection he goes on to examine this differences between wanting good and beautiful things and, attaining bad things under the mental picture or idea that they are, in some way, good. However, having good things is not enough. These good things must be attained justly other than their significance to virtue as a whole (77a) is obsolete. These characteristics of wealth, a position of honor, justice, and the pursuit of happiness are mutually comprehensive and together, begin to describe the nature of virtue.