Plato's Meno

Plato's Meno

In the Meno, Plato introduces the concept of anamnesis. Anamnesis is the acquiring of knowledge through recollection. Plato introduces this concept in response to a paradox presented by Meno in their dialogue with inquiring as to the definition of virtue.   Although Plato is able to create and exemplify an intriguing concept in his argument there do exist some deficiencies.
As the dialogue begins questioning the definition of virtue, Socrates claims he has no idea what virtue is and neither does anyone else (Meno 71b, c). Meno begins by distinguishing virtue for different people (Meno 71e). Socrates refutes this by presenting the argument that both old men and children should possess the virtues of temperance and justice (Meno 73b). This may have persuaded Meno to think of virtue as something that is common to all people when he presents a virtue that Socrates refutes as not applying to slaves. This is interesting to note in the definition of virtue as today, in most societies, this concept of slaves is not accepted whereas at the time of this dialogue it was commonplace. Eventually Meno gives up on his quest for the definition of virtue and exclaims that he has no idea what virtue is and that he has been confused by Socrates’ arguments (Meno 80a, b). However, Meno confronts Socrates – with what will be referred to as Meno’s Paradox – when he says, “How will you look for it, Socrates, when you do not know at all what it is? How will you aim to search for something you do not know at all?" (Meno 80d)
Socrates refutes this paradox by gathering three things. The first is that one either knows something or they do not know something. The second is that if one knows something then they would never have to inquire into it. Lastly, if x is unknown, inquiry would be pointless because one would not recognize the answer if they saw it. Therefore, inquiry is either unnecessary or pointless. Socrates continues to say knowledge is never acquired but instead...