# Meno

**Author:** Plato
**Tags:** Classical literature, Ethics, Virtue, Socrates, 470 BC-399 BC, Early works to 1800
**Price:** Free
**Formats:** DOCX, EPUB, FB2, PDF, TXT
**Downloads:** 30
**Added:** 10.07.2026
**URL:** https://samolit.com/books/96453

## Description

Plato's Meno opens with a profound question from Meno to Socrates: can virtue be taught? This seemingly straightforward inquiry quickly unravels into a deeper philosophical exploration, as Socrates insists that one must first understand what virtue truly is before discussing its acquisition. Through the rigorous Socratic method of cross-examination, Meno’s attempts to define virtue are dismantled, leading to a famous paradox about the impossibility of seeking what one does not know.

In response, Socrates introduces his influential theory of recollection, suggesting that all learning is a process of remembering knowledge already present within the immortal soul. He vividly demonstrates this concept by guiding an uneducated slave boy to solve a complex geometric problem, illustrating that innate wisdom can be awakened through proper questioning. The dialogue ultimately grapples with the intricate relationship between virtue, knowledge, and true belief, concluding with a nuanced discussion on whether virtue is a form of understanding or a divine gift. This enduring classical work offers a compelling introduction to Socratic ethics and Platonic epistemology, fundamental to Western thought.