Logical Discussion
watresponse. However, instead of producing his own idea, he simply admits, “I should.” This theme, however, isn’t seen as much within the rest of the dialoged. Meno’s answers mostly consists of short and approving answers.
This passage holds a strong contribution to the discussion. Firstly, it creates a platform for both of the characters. It communicates the style of thought, reasoning and social interactions of Meno and Socrates. With this knowledge, a comparison can be conducted with the other passages, allowing readers to track character changes.
With logical discussion, valid reasons and applied metaphors, this passage has many strengths. However, it also has several weaknesses, most prominent within Socrates metaphors and similes. Firstly, he asks Meno the key characteristic that would make all bees, fundamentally a bee. Although they do differ in sizes and shape, they agree that there must be something that would define it as a bee. Socrates connects that with virtue. However, what makes a bee a bee is within the field of biology. Admittedly, they would have not had such knowledge like a dichotomous key, however, the question being asked was still physical rather than mental. Again, this issue is seen in his comparison of strength and health. Again, it cannot be known the exact biological aspects of them, however, they deal with the physical body. Strength and health, to some degree, can be quantitatively measured. Virtue, on the other hand, can only be shown throughout actions. Actions go through through complicated mental processes, while strength and health cannot be so easily skewed. They did successfully communicate to Meno the problem at hand, however, these examples are highly flawed.
This discussion led me to see virtue, namely the process and inability to define it, in a new light. It began with a simple idea, a trial definition, and then proceeded to be analyzed and discussed.