Meno Argument Analysis

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Meno Argument

The Meno argument written by Plato was intended to point out the flaw of our knowledge. Meno is able to shine a light on the fact that we do not know how to obtain knowledge or know the validity of information we use. Plato’s dialogue begins by having Meno request a definition of virtue or at least an established commonality between different virtues to Aristotle. The reason for wanting a definition of virtue is to be able to support a concept of foundational knowledge. If a truthful foundation for knowledge existed philosopher would be able to eliminate their doubts of reality and develop new knowledge on the premises of an undeniable truth. Socrates answers Meno’s problem by explaining how humans have immortal soul; where …show more content…

Socrates’ response to Meno does not include a solution but a bigger problem “ I have never met anyone else I thought did know”. Socrates unable to provide a solution; but rather states he has never been able to find anyone who has a clear definition of virtue or any term. As the conversation escalates into subjects that need certainty, Meno comes to the realization of a bigger problem. How do we obtain knowledge? Since we already posses some knowledge how do we know that knowledge is true and how did we come to possess knowledge? Meno indicates the problem of obtaining knowledge eventually becomes paradoxical. How can individuals learn new topics without having learned the ability to learn? We cannot obtain definitions of concepts if we have never had the certainty of our ability to learn. Meno shining a light on the fact that we are never certain of the reliability of new facts, even if we had background information on a subject. How can we confirm the truth of the information we would use to confirm new knowledge? Meno’s paradox is unsolvable because we have not developed a method of obtaining knowledge that contains a stepping-stone to knowledge. Which it seems impossible to have a stepping-stone since we do not know what knowledge is. Meno even tries to explain if we were to bump into reliable knowledge …show more content…

Socrates’ concept of innate ideas tends to fail when individuals cannot access their innate knowledge such as their sense of texture, taste or sight. Aristotle unlike Socrates states that we use perception as a tool towards knowledge where we assume facts to determine their validity. This is exactly what Socrates accidently does when presenting knowledge to the slave boy. Socrates presents his idea of innate knowledge when having an individual who has never been educated present independent facts of shapes. Socrates explains the slave boy was able to present knowledge because they were internally in him. Aristotle can actually point out how Socrates uses perception to display facts to the slave boy. When the boy uses his perception to obtain facts he is actually learning new facts. Socrates demonstrated to the slave boy facts, which the slave boy confirmed with his perception. The slave boy did not have innate knowledge of the shapes presented to him but he did have the tool of perception to guide him to the correct assumption

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