Meno's Argument Essay: Can Virtue Be Taught?
Controversial, the concept of virtue itself has been debated for thousands of years. Difficult to define and mingling with religion, virtue stuns us with its complexity. Still maintaining a key role in general ethics, its level of mystery is truly impressive.
Early philosophers, including well-known Plato, documented their understandings of virtue in the distinctive conversations, primarily within the Meno. Approximately dated in 402 bce, the dialogue encompasses a thorough analysis of virtue primarily between Meno and Socrates, ultimately aimed to determine whether virtue is truly inherited in human nature or taught. The dialogue opens with Meno asking Socrates a question: Can virtue be taught?
Initially, many definitions are conversed; followed by rather unconvincing arguments. Meno quickly seems to retire his cause, by providing a paradox, essentially meaning that they either know something or they do not. If
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The next major part within the discussion is Socrates’ provision of a simple objectification to his own previous argument: there are no teachers of virtue, therefore it is not plausible for virtue to be taught. Religiously a noncomformist, he suggests that virtue is simply a direct gift from a God, inheritely blessed upon good men. Although this may seem reasonable, I believe that the debate becomes more complicated when religion is involved. Many religions, including the Bahá'í Faith and Daoism, fully support Socrates’ claim, each critically beliving that virtue is an inner possession, inherited from a spiritual power. In contrast, many religions such as Christianity and Islam promote the idea that although key elements of virtue are innate, others are taught and exemplified by founders of each religion such as Jesus Christ and Muhammed. Therefore, according to Socrates’ argument, depending on an individual’s beliefs, teachers of virtue may in fact exist; aknowledging virtue to be partially
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