第1章

byPlatotranslatedbyBenjaminJowettMENO PERSONSOFTHEDIALOGUEMENO；SOCRATES；ASLAVEOFMENO； ANYTUS Meno。Canyoutellme，Socrates，whethervirtueisacquiredbyteachingorbypractice；orifneitherbyteachingnorpractice，thenwhetheritcomestomanbynature，orinwhatotherway？ Socrates。OMeno，therewasatimewhentheThessalianswerefamousamongtheotherHellenesonlyfortheirrichesandtheirriding；butnow，ifIamnotmistaken，theyareequallyfamousfortheirwisdom，especiallyatLarisa，whichisthenativecityofyourfriendAristippus。AndthisisGorgias’doing；forwhenhecamethere，thefloweroftheAleuadae，amongthemyouradmirerAristippus，andtheotherchiefsoftheThessalians，fellinlovewithhiswisdom。Andhehastaughtyouthehabitofansweringquestionsinagrandandboldstyle，whichbecomesthosewhoknow，andisthestyleinwhichhehimselfanswersallcomers；andanyHellenewholikesmayaskhimanything。Howdifferentisourlot！mydearMeno。HereatAthensthereisadearthofthecommodity，andallwisdomseemstohaveemigratedfromustoyou。IamcertainthatifyouweretoaskanyAthenianwhethervirtuewasnaturaloracquired，hewouldlaughinyourface，andsay：\"Stranger，youhavefartoogoodanopinionofme，ifyouthinkthatIcanansweryourquestion。ForIliterallydonotknowwhatvirtueis，andmuchlesswhetheritisacquiredbyteachingornot。\"AndImyself，Meno，livingasIdointhisregionofpoverty，amaspoorastherestoftheworld；andIconfesswithshamethatIknowliterallynothingaboutvirtue；andwhenIdonotknowthe\"quid\"ofanythinghowcanIknowthe\"quale\"？How，ifIknewnothingatallofMeno，couldItellifhewasfair，ortheoppositeoffair；richandnoble，orthereverseofrichandnoble？DoyouthinkthatI could？ Men。No，Indeed。Butareyouinearnest，Socrates，insayingthatyoudonotknowwhatvirtueis？AndamItocarrybackthisreportofyoutoThessaly？ Soc。Notonlythat，mydearboy，butyoumaysayfurtherthatIhaveneverknownofanyoneelsewhodid，inmyjudgment。 Men。ThenyouhavenevermetGorgiaswhenhewasatAthens？ Soc。Yes，Ihave。 Men。Anddidyounotthinkthatheknew？ Soc。Ihavenotagoodmemory，Meno，andthereforeIcannotnowtellwhatIthoughtofhimatthetime。AndIdaresaythathedidknow，andthatyouknowwhathesaid：please，therefore，toremindmeofwhathesaid；or，ifyouwouldrather，tellmeyourownview；forI suspectthatyouandhethinkmuchalike。 Men。Verytrue。 Soc。Thenasheisnothere，nevermindhim，anddoyoutellme： Bythegods，Meno，begenerous，andtellmewhatyousaythatvirtueis；forIshallbetrulydelightedtofindthatIhavebeenmistaken，andthatyouandGorgiasdoreallyhavethisknowledge； althoughIhavebeenjustsayingthatIhaveneverfoundanybodywhohad。 Men。Therewillbenodifficulty，Socrates，inansweringyourquestion。Letustakefirstthevirtueofaman—heshouldknowhowtoadministerthestate，andintheadministrationofittobenefithisfriendsandharmhisenemies；andhemustalsobecarefulnottosufferharmhimself。Awoman’svirtue，ifyouwishtoknowaboutthat，mayalsobeeasilydescribed：herdutyistoorderherhouse，andkeepwhatisindoors，andobeyherhusband。Everyage，everyconditionoflife，youngorold，maleorfemale，bondorfree，hasadifferentvirtue：therearevirtuesnumberless，andnolackofdefinitionsofthem；forvirtueisrelativetotheactionsandagesofeachofusinallthatwedo。Andthesamemaybesaidofvice，Socrates。 Soc。HowfortunateIam，Meno！WhenIaskyouforonevirtue，youpresentmewithaswarmofthem，whichareinyourkeeping。SupposethatIcarryonthefigureoftheswarm，andaskofyou，Whatisthenatureofthebee？andyouanswerthattherearemanykindsofbees，andIreply：Butdobeesdifferasbees，becausetherearemanyanddifferentkindsofthem；oraretheynotrathertobedistinguishedbysomeotherquality，asforexamplebeauty，size，orshape？Howwouldyouanswerme？ Men。Ishouldanswerthatbeesdonotdifferfromoneanother，asbees。 Soc。AndifIwentontosay：ThatiswhatIdesiretoknow，Meno； tellmewhatisthequalityinwhichtheydonotdiffer，butareallalike；—wouldyoubeabletoanswer？ Men。Ishould。 Soc。Andsoofthevirtues，howevermanyanddifferenttheymaybe，theyhaveallacommonnaturewhichmakesthemvirtues；andonthishewhowouldanswerthequestion，\"Whatisvirtue？\"woulddowelltohavehiseyefixed：Doyouunderstand？ Men。Iambeginningtounderstand；butIdonotasyettakeholdofthequestionasIcouldwish。 Soc。Whenyousay，Meno，thatthereisonevirtueofaman，anotherofawoman，anotherofachild，andsoon，doesthisapplyonlytovirtue，orwouldyousaythesameofhealth，andsize，andstrength？Oristhenatureofhealthalwaysthesame，whetherinmanorwoman？ Men。Ishouldsaythathealthisthesame，bothinmanandwoman。 Soc。Andisnotthistrueofsizeandstrength？Ifawomanisstrong，shewillbestrongbyreasonofthesameformandofthesamestrengthsubsistinginherwhichthereisintheman。Imeantosaythatstrength，asstrength，whetherofmanorwoman，isthesame。Isthereanydifference？ Men。Ithinknot。 Soc。Andwillnotvirtue，asvirtue，bethesame，whetherinachildorinagrown—upperson，inawomanorinaman？ Men。Icannothelpfeeling，Socrates，thatthiscaseisdifferentfromtheothers。 Soc。Butwhy？Wereyounotsayingthatthevirtueofamanwastoorderastate，andthevirtueofawomanwastoorderahouse？ Men。Ididsayso。 Soc。Andcaneitherhouseorstateoranythingbewellorderedwithouttemperanceandwithoutjustice？ Men。Certainlynot。 Soc。Thentheywhoorderastateorahousetemperatelyorjustlyorderthemwithtemperanceandjustice？ Men。Certainly。 Soc。Thenbothmenandwomen，iftheyaretobegoodmenandwomen，musthavethesamevirtuesoftemperanceandjustice？ Men。True。 Soc。Andcaneitherayoungmanoranelderonebegood，iftheyareintemperateandunjust？ Men。Theycannot。 Soc。Theymustbetemperateandjust？ Men。Yes。 Soc。Thenallmenaregoodinthesameway，andbyparticipationinthesamevirtues？ Men。Suchistheinference。 Soc。Andtheysurelywouldnothavebeengoodinthesameway，unlesstheirvirtuehadbeenthesame？ Men。Theywouldnot。 Soc。Thennowthatthesamenessofallvirtuehasbeenproven，tryandrememberwhatyouandGorgiassaythatvirtueis。 Men。Willyouhaveonedefinitionofthemall？ Soc。ThatiswhatIamseeking。 Men。Ifyouwanttohaveonedefinitionofthemall，Iknownotwhattosay，butthatvirtueisthepowerofgoverningmankind。 Soc。Anddoesthisdefinitionofvirtueincludeallvirtue？Isvirtuethesameinachildandinaslave，Meno？Canthechildgovernhisfather，ortheslavehismaster；andwouldhewhogovernedbeanylongeraslave？ Men。Ithinknot，Socrates。 Soc。No，indeed；therewouldbesmallreasoninthat。Yetoncemore，fairfriend；accordingtoyou，virtueis\"thepowerofgoverning\"；butdoyounotadd\"justlyandnotunjustly\"？ Men。Yes，Socrates；Iagreethere；forjusticeisvirtue。 Soc。Wouldyousay\"virtue，\"Meno，or\"avirtue\"？ Men。Whatdoyoumean？ Soc。ImeanasImightsayaboutanything；thataround，forexample，is\"afigure\"andnotsimply\"figure，\"andIshouldadoptthismodeofspeaking，becausethereareotherfigures。 Men。Quiteright；andthatisjustwhatIamsayingaboutvirtue—thatthereareothervirtuesaswellasjustice。 Soc。Whatarethey？tellmethenamesofthem，asIwouldtellyouthenamesoftheotherfiguresifyouaskedme。 Men。Courageandtemperanceandwisdomandmagnanimityarevirtues；andtherearemanyothers。 Soc。Yes，Meno；andagainweareinthesamecase：insearchingafteronevirtuewehavefoundmany，thoughnotinthesamewayasbefore；butwehavebeenunabletofindthecommonvirtuewhichrunsthroughthemall。 Men。Why，Socrates，evennowIamnotabletofollowyouintheattempttogetatonecommonnotionofvirtueasofotherthings。 Soc。Nowonder；butIwilltrytogetnearerifIcan，foryouknowthatallthingshaveacommonnotion。SupposenowthatsomeoneaskedyouthequestionwhichIaskedbefore：Meno，hewouldsay，whatisfigure？Andifyouanswered\"roundness，\"hewouldreplytoyou，inmywayofspeaking，byaskingwhetheryouwouldsaythatroundnessis\"figure\"or\"afigure\"；andyouwouldanswer\"afigure。\" Men。Certainly。 Soc。Andforthisreason—thatthereareotherfigures？ Men。Yes。 Soc。Andifheproceededtoask，Whatotherfiguresarethere？youwouldhavetoldhim。 Men。Ishould。 Soc。Andifhesimilarlyaskedwhatcolouris，andyouansweredwhiteness，andthequestionerrejoined，Wouldyousaythatwhitenessiscolouroracolour？youwouldreply，Acolour，becausethereareothercoloursaswell。 Men。Ishould。 Soc。Andifhehadsaid，Tellmewhattheyare？—youwouldhavetoldhimofothercolourswhicharecoloursjustasmuchaswhiteness。 Men。Yes。 Soc。Andsupposethatheweretopursuethematterinmyway，hewouldsay：Everandanonwearelandedinparticulars，butthisisnotwhatIwant；tellmethen，sinceyoucallthembyacommonname，andsaythattheyareallfigures，evenwhenopposedtooneanother，whatisthatcommonnaturewhichyoudesignateasfigure—whichcontainsstraightaswellasround，andisnomoreonethantheother—thatwouldbeyourmodeofspeaking？ Men。Yes。 Soc。Andinspeakingthus，youdonotmeantosaythattheroundisroundanymorethanstraight，orthestraightanymorestraightthanround？ Men。Certainlynot。 Soc。Youonlyassertthattheroundfigureisnotmoreafigurethanthestraight，orthestraightthantheround？ Men。Verytrue。 Soc。Towhatthendowegivethenameoffigure？Tryandanswer。 Supposethatwhenapersonaskedyouthisquestioneitheraboutfigureorcolour，youweretoreply，Man，Idonotunderstandwhatyouwant，orknowwhatyouaresaying；hewouldlookratherastonishedandsay：DoyounotunderstandthatIamlookingforthe\"simileinmultis\"？Andthenhemightputthequestioninanotherform：Mono，hemightsay，whatisthat\"simileinmultis\"whichyoucallfigure，andwhichincludesnotonlyroundandstraightfigures，butall？Couldyounotanswerthatquestion，Meno？Iwishthatyouwouldtry；theattemptwillbegoodpracticewithaviewtotheansweraboutvirtue。 Men。Iwouldratherthatyoushouldanswer，Socrates。 Soc。ShallIindulgeyou？ Men。Byallmeans。 Soc。Andthenyouwilltellmeaboutvirtue？ Men。Iwill。 Soc。ThenImustdomybest，forthereisaprizetobewon。 Men。Certainly。 Soc。Well，Iwilltryandexplaintoyouwhatfigureis。Whatdoyousaytothisanswer？—Figureistheonlythingwhichalwaysfollowscolour。Willyoubesatisfiedwithit，asIamsurethatIshouldbe，ifyouwouldletmehaveasimilardefinitionofvirtue？ Men。But，Socrates，itissuchasimpleanswer。 Soc。Whysimple？ Men。Because，accordingtoyou，figureisthatwhichalwaysfollowscolour。 （Soc。Granted。） Men。Butifapersonweretosaythathedoesnotknowwhatcolouris，anymorethanwhatfigureis—whatsortofanswerwouldyouhavegivenhim？ Soc。Ishouldhavetoldhimthetruth。Andifhewereaphilosopheroftheeristicandantagonisticsort，Ishouldsaytohim： Youhavemyanswer，andifIamwrong，yourbusinessistotakeuptheargumentandrefuteme。Butifwewerefriends，andweretalkingasyouandIarenow，Ishouldreplyinamilderstrainandmoreinthedialectician’svein；thatistosay，Ishouldnotonlyspeakthetruth，butIshouldmakeuseofpremisseswhichthepersoninterrogatedwouldbewillingtoadmit。AndthisisthewayinwhichI shallendeavourtoapproachyou。Youwillacknowledge，willyounot，thatthereissuchathingasanend，ortermination，orextremity？—allwhichwordsuseinthesamesense，althoughIamawarethatProdicusmightdrawdistinctionsaboutthem：butstillyou，Iamsure，wouldspeakofathingasendedorterminated—thatisallwhichIamsaying—notanythingverydifficult。 Men。Yes，Ishould；andIbelievethatIunderstandyourmeaning。 Soc。Andyouwouldspeakofasurfaceandalsoofasolid，asforexampleingeometry。 Men。Yes。 Soc。Wellthen，youarenowinaconditiontounderstandmydefinitionoffigure。Idefinefiguretobethatinwhichthesolidends；or，moreconcisely，thelimitofsolid。 Men。Andnow，Socrates，whatiscolour？ Soc。Youareoutrageous，Meno，inthusplaguingapooroldmantogiveyouananswer，whenyouwillnottakethetroubleofrememberingwhatisGorgias’definitionofvirtue。 Men。WhenyouhavetoldmewhatIask，Iwilltellyou，Socrates。 Soc。Amanwhowasblindfoldedhasonlytohearyoutalking，andhewouldknowthatyouareafaircreatureandhavestillmanylovers。 Men。Whydoyouthinkso？ Soc。Why，becauseyoualwaysspeakinimperatives：likeallbeautieswhentheyareintheirprime，youaretyrannical；andalso，asI suspect，youhavefoundoutthatIhaveweaknessforthefair，andthereforetohumouryouImustanswer。 Men。Pleasedo。 Soc。WouldyoulikemetoansweryouafterthemannerofGorgias，whichisfamiliartoyou？ Men。Ishouldlikenothingbetter。 Soc。DonotheandyouandEmpedoclessaythattherearecertaineffluencesofexistence？ Men。Certainly。 Soc。Andpassagesintowhichandthroughwhichtheeffluencespass？ Men。Exactly。 Soc。Andsomeoftheeffluencesfitintothepassages，andsomeofthemaretoosmallortoolarge？ Men。True。 Soc。Andthereissuchathingassight？ Men。Yes。 Soc。Andnow，asPindarsays，\"readmymeaning\"colourisaneffluenceofform，commensuratewithsight，andpalpabletosense。 Men。That，Socrates，appearstometobeanadmirableanswer。 Soc。Why，yes，becauseithappenstobeonewhichyouhavebeeninthehabitofhearing：andyourwitwillhavediscovered，Isuspect，thatyoumayexplaininthesamewaythenatureofsoundandsmell，andofmanyothersimilarphenomena。 Men。Quitetrue。 Soc。Theanswer，Meno，wasintheorthodoxsolemnvein，andthereforewasmoreacceptabletoyouthantheotheransweraboutfigure。 Men。Yes。 Soc。Andyet，OsonofAlexidemus，Icannothelpthinkingthattheotherwasthebetter；andIamsurethatyouwouldbeofthesameopinion，ifyouwouldonlystayandbeinitiated，andwerenotcompelled，asyousaidyesterday，togoawaybeforethemysteries。 Men。ButIwillstay，Socrates，ifyouwillgivememanysuchanswers。 Soc。Wellthen，formyownsakeaswellasforyours，Iwilldomyverybest；butIamafraidthatIshallnotbeabletogiveyouverymanyasgood：andnow，inyourturn，youaretofulfilyourpromise，andtellmewhatvirtueisintheuniversal；anddonotmakeasingularintoaplural，asthefacetioussayofthosewhobreakathing，butdelivervirtuetomewholeandsound，andnotbrokenintoanumberofpieces：Ihavegivenyouthepattern。 Men。Wellthen，Socrates，virtue，asItakeit，iswhenhe，whodesiresthehonourable，isabletoprovideitforhimself；sothepoetsays，andIsaytoo— Virtueisthedesireofthingshonourableandthepowerofattainingthem。 Soc。Anddoeshewhodesiresthehonourablealsodesirethegood？ Men。Certainly。 Soc。Thenaretheresomewhodesiretheevilandotherswhodesirethegood？Donotallmen，mydearsir，desiregood？ Men。Ithinknot。 Soc。Therearesomewhodesireevil？ Men。Yes。 Soc。Doyoumeanthattheythinktheevilswhichtheydesire，tobegood；ordotheyknowthattheyareevilandyetdesirethem？ Men。Both，Ithink。 Soc。Anddoyoureallyimagine，Meno，thatamanknowsevilstobeevilsanddesiresthemnotwithstanding？ Men。CertainlyIdo。 Soc。Anddesireisofpossession？ Men。Yes，ofpossession。 Soc。Anddoeshethinkthattheevilswilldogoodtohimwhopossessesthem，ordoesheknowthattheywilldohimharm？ Men。Therearesomewhothinkthattheevilswilldothemgood，andotherswhoknowthattheywilldothemharm。 Soc。And，inyouropinion，dothosewhothinkthattheywilldothemgoodknowthattheyareevils？ Men。Certainlynot。 Soc。Isitnotobviousthatthosewhoareignorantoftheirnaturedonotdesirethem；buttheydesirewhattheysupposetobegoodsalthoughtheyarereallyevils；andiftheyaremistakenandsupposetheevilstobegoodtheyreallydesiregoods？ Men。Yes，inthatcase。 Soc。Well，anddothosewho，asyousay，desireevils，andthinkthatevilsarehurtfultothepossessorofthem，knowthattheywillbehurtbythem？ Men。Theymustknowit。 Soc。Andmusttheynotsupposethatthosewhoarehurtaremiserableinproportiontothehurtwhichisinflicteduponthem？ Men。Howcanitbeotherwise？ Soc。Butarenotthemiserableill—fated？ Men。Yes，indeed。 Soc。Anddoesanyonedesiretobemiserableandill—fated？ Men。Ishouldsaynot，Socrates。 Soc。Butifthereisnoonewhodesirestobemiserable，thereisnoone，Meno，whodesiresevil；forwhatismiserybutthedesireandpossessionofevil？ Men。Thatappearstobethetruth，Socrates，andIadmitthatnobodydesiresevil。 Soc。Andyet，wereyounotsayingjustnowthatvirtueisthedesireandpowerofattaininggood？ Men。Yes，Ididsayso。 Soc。Butifthisbeaffirmed，thenthedesireofgoodiscommontoall，andonemanisnobetterthananotherinthatrespect？ Men。True。 Soc。Andifonemanisnotbetterthananotherindesiringgood，hemustbebetterinthepowerofattainingit？ Men。Exactly。 Soc。Then，accordingtoyourdefinition，virtuewouldappeartobethepowerofattaininggood？ Men。Ientirelyapprove，Socrates，ofthemannerinwhichyounowviewthismatter。 Soc。Thenletusseewhetherwhatyousayistruefromanotherpointofview；forverylikelyyoumayberight：—Youaffirmvirtuetobethepowerofattaininggoods？ Men。Yes。 Soc。Andthegoodswhichmeanaresuchashealthandwealthandthepossessionofgoldandsilver，andhavingofficeandhonourinthestate—thosearewhatyouwouldcallgoods？ Men。Yes，Ishouldincludeallthose。 Soc。Then，accordingtoMeno，whoisthehereditaryfriendofthegreatking，virtueisthepowerofgettingsilverandgold；andwouldyouaddthattheymustbegainedpiously，justly，ordoyoudeemthistobeofnoconsequence？Andisanymodeofacquisition，evenifunjustanddishonest，equallytobedeemedvirtue？ Men。Notvirtue，Socrates，butvice。 Soc。Thenjusticeortemperanceorholiness，orsomeotherpartofvirtue，aswouldappear，mustaccompanytheacquisition，andwithoutthemthemereacquisitionofgoodwillnotbevirtue。 Men。Why，howcantherebevirtuewithoutthese？ Soc。Andthenon—acquisitionofgoldandsilverinadishonestmannerforoneselforanother，orinotherwordsthewantofthem，maybeequallyvirtue？ Men。True。 Soc。Thentheacquisitionofsuchgoodsisnomorevirtuethanthenon—acquisitionandwantofthem，butwhateverisaccompaniedbyjusticeorhonestyisvirtue，andwhateverisdevoidofjusticeisvice。 Men。Itcannotbeotherwise，inmyjudgment。 Soc。Andwerewenotsayingjustnowthatjustice，temperance，andthelike，wereeachofthemapartofvirtue？ Men。Yes。 Soc。Andso，Meno，thisisthewayinwhichyoumockme。 Men。Whydoyousaythat，Socrates？ Soc。Why，becauseIaskedyoutodelivervirtueintomyhandswholeandunbroken，andIgaveyouapatternaccordingtowhichyouweretoframeyouranswer；andyouhaveforgottenalready，andtellmethatvirtueisthepowerofattaininggoodjustly，orwithjustice； andjusticeyouacknowledgetobeapartofvirtue。 Men。Yes。 Soc。Thenitfollowsfromyourownadmissions，thatvirtueisdoingwhatyoudowithapartofvirtue；forjusticeandthelikearesaidbyyoutobepartsofvirtue。 Men。Whatofthat？ Soc。Whatofthat！Why，didnotIaskyoutotellmethenatureofvirtueasawhole？Andyouareveryfarfromtellingmethis；butdeclareeveryactiontobevirtuewhichisdonewithapartofvirtue； asthoughyouhadtoldmeandImustalreadyknowthewholeofvirtue，andthistoowhenfritteredawayintolittlepieces。And，therefore，mydearIfearthatImustbeginagainandrepeatthesamequestion： Whatisvirtue？forotherwise，Icanonlysay，thateveryactiondonewithapartofvirtueisvirtue；whatelseisthemeaningofsayingthateveryactiondonewithjusticeisvirtue？OughtInottoaskthequestionoveragain；forcananyonewhodoesnotknowvirtueknowapartofvirtue？ Men。No；Idonotsaythathecan。 Soc。Doyourememberhow，intheexampleoffigure，werejectedanyanswergivenintermswhichwereasyetunexplainedorunadmitted？ Men。Yes，Socrates；andwewerequiterightindoingso。 Soc。Butthen，myfriend，donotsupposethatwecanexplaintoanyonethenatureofvirtueasawholethroughsomeunexplainedportionofvirtue，oranythingatallinthatfashion；weshouldonlyhavetoaskoveragaintheoldquestion，Whatisvirtue？AmInotright？ Men。Ibelievethatyouare。 Soc。Thenbeginagain，andanswerme，What，accordingtoyouandyourfriendGorgias，isthedefinitionofvirtue？ Men。OSocrates，Iusedtobetold，beforeIknewyou，thatyouwerealwaysdoubtingyourselfandmakingothersdoubt；andnowyouarecastingyourspellsoverme，andIamsimplygettingbewitchedandenchanted，andamatmywits’end。AndifImayventuretomakeajestuponyou，youseemtomebothinyourappearanceandinyourpoweroverotherstobeveryliketheflattorpedofish，whotorpifiesthosewhocomenearhimandtouchhim，asyouhavenowtorpifiedme，I think。Formysoulandmytonguearereallytorpid，andIdonotknowhowtoansweryou；andthoughIhavebeendeliveredofaninfinitevarietyofspeechesaboutvirtuebeforenow，andtomanypersons—andverygoodonestheywere，asIthought—atthismomentI cannotevensaywhatvirtueis。AndIthinkthat。youareverywiseinnotvoyagingandgoingawayfromhome，forifyoudidinotherplacesasdoinAthens，youwouldbecastintoprisonasamagician。 Soc。Youarearogue，Meno，andhadallbutcaughtme。 Men。Whatdoyoumean，Socrates？ Soc。Icantellwhyyoumadeasimileaboutme。 Men。Why？ Soc。InorderthatImightmakeanothersimileaboutyou。ForIknowthatallprettyyounggentlemenliketohaveprettysimilesmadeaboutthem—aswelltheymay—butIshallnotreturnthecompliment。Astomybeingatorpedo，ifthetorpedoistorpidaswellasthecauseoftorpidityinothers，thenindeedIamatorpedo，butnototherwise； forIperplexothers，notbecauseIamclear，butbecauseIamutterlyperplexedmyself。AndnowIknownotwhatvirtueis，andyouseemtobeinthesamecase，althoughyoudidonceperhapsknowbeforeyoutouchedme。However，Ihavenoobjectiontojoinwithyouintheenquiry。 Men。Andhowwillyouenquire，Socrates，intothatwhichyoudonotknow？Whatwillyouputforthasthesubjectofenquiry？Andifyoufindwhatyouwant，howwillyoueverknowthatthisisthethingwhichyoudidnotknow？ Soc。Iknow，Meno，whatyoumean；butjustseewhatatiresomedisputeyouareintroducing。Youarguethatmancannotenquireeitheraboutthatwhichheknows，oraboutthatwhichhedoesnotknow；forifheknows，hehasnoneedtoenquire；andifnot，hecannot；forhedoesnotknowthe，verysubjectaboutwhichheistoenquire。 Men。Well，Socrates，andisnottheargumentsound？ Soc。Ithinknot。 Men。Whynot？ Soc。Iwilltellyouwhy：Ihaveheardfromcertainwisemenandwomenwhospokeofthingsdivinethat— Men。Whatdidtheysay？ Soc。Theyspokeofaglorioustruth，asIconceive。 Men。Whatwasit？andwhowerethey？ Soc。Someofthemwerepriestsandpriestesses，whohadstudiedhowtheymightbeabletogiveareasonoftheirprofession：there，havebeenpoetsalso，whospokeofthesethingsbyinspiration，likePindar，andmanyotherswhowereinspired。Andtheysay—mark，now，andseewhethertheirwordsaretrue—theysaythatthesoulofmanisimmortal，andatonetimehasanend，whichistermeddying，andatanothertimeisbornagain，butisneverdestroyed。Andthemoralis，thatamanoughttolivealwaysinperfectholiness。\"ForintheninthyearPersephonesendsthesoulsofthosefromwhomshehasreceivedthepenaltyofancientcrimebackagainfrombeneathintothelightofthesunabove，andthesearetheywhobecomenoblekingsandmightymenandgreatinwisdomandarecalledsaintlyheroesinafterages。\"Thesoul，then，asbeingimmortal，andhavingbeenbornagainmanytimes，randhavingseenallthingsthatexist，whetherinthisworldorintheworldbelow，hasknowledgeofthemall；anditisnowonderthatsheshouldbeabletocalltoremembranceallthatsheeverknewaboutvirtue，andabouteverything；forasallnatureisakin，andthesoulhaslearnedallthings；thereisnodifficultyinherelicitingorasmensaylearning，outofasinglerecollection—alltherest，ifamanisstrenuousanddoesnotfaint；forallenquiryandalllearningisbutrecollection。Andthereforeweoughtnottolistentothissophisticalargumentabouttheimpossibilityofenquiry：foritwillmakeusidle；andissweetonlytothesluggard；buttheothersayingwillmakeusactiveandinquisitive。Inthatconfiding，Iwillgladlyenquirewithyouintothenatureofvirtue。 Men。Yes，Socrates；butwhatdoyoumeanbysayingthatwedonotlearn，andthatwhatwecalllearningisonlyaprocessofrecollection？Canyouteachmehowthisis？ Soc。Itoldyou，Meno，justnowthatyouwerearogue，andnowyouaskwhetherIcanteachyou，whenIamsayingthatthereisnoteaching，butonlyrecollection；andthusyouimaginethatyouwillinvolvemeinacontradiction。 Men。Indeed，Socrates，IprotestthatIhadnosuchintention。I onlyaskedthequestionfromhabit；butifyoucanprovetomethatwhatyousayistrue，Iwishthatyouwould。 Soc。Itwillbenoeasymatter，butIwilltrytopleaseyoutotheutmostofmypower。Supposethatyoucalloneofyournumerousattendants，thatImaydemonstrateonhim。 Men。Certainly。Comehither，boy。 Soc。HeisGreek，andspeaksGreek，doeshenot？ Men。Yes，indeed；hewasborninthehouse。 Soc。AttendnowtothequestionswhichIaskhim，andobservewhetherhelearnsofmeoronlyremembers。 Men。Iwill。 Soc。Tellme，boy，doyouknowthatafigurelikethisisasquare？ Boy。Ido。 Soc。Andyouknowthatasquarefigurehasthesefourlinesequal？ Boy。Certainly。 Soc。AndtheselineswhichIhavedrawnthroughthemiddleofthesquarearealsoequal？ Boy。Yes。 Soc。Asquaremaybeofanysize？ Boy。Certainly。 Soc。Andifonesideofthefigurebeoftwofeet，andtheothersidebeoftwofeet，howmuchwillthewholebe？Letmeexplain：ifinonedirectionthespacewasoftwofeet，andinotherdirectionofonefoot，thewholewouldbeoftwofeettakenonce？ Boy。Yes。 Soc。Butsincethissideisalsooftwofeet，therearetwicetwofeet？ Boy。Thereare。 Soc。Thenthesquareisoftwicetwofeet？ Boy。Yes。 Soc。Andhowmanyaretwicetwofeet？countandtellme。 Boy。Four，Socrates。 Soc。Andmighttherenotbeanothersquaretwiceaslargeasthis，andhavinglikethisthelinesequal？ Boy。Yes。 Soc。Andofhowmanyfeetwillthatbe？ Boy。Ofeightfeet。 Soc。Andnowtryandtellmethelengthofthelinewhichformsthesideofthatdoublesquare：thisistwofeet—whatwillthatbe？ Boy。Clearly，Socrates，itwillbedouble。 Soc。Doyouobserve，Meno，thatIamnotteachingtheboyanything，butonlyaskinghimquestions；andnowhefanciesthatheknowshowlongalineisnecessaryinordertoproduceafigureofeightsquarefeet；doeshenot？ Men。Yes。 Soc。Anddoeshereallyknow？ Men。Certainlynot。 Soc。Heonlyguessesthatbecausethesquareisdouble，thelineisdouble。 Men。True。 Soc。Observehimwhileherecallsthestepsinregularorder。（TotheBoy。）Tellme，boy，doyouassertthatadoublespacecomesfromadoubleline？RememberthatIamnotspeakingofanoblong，butofafigureequaleveryway，andtwicethesizeofthis—thatistosayofeightfeet；andIwanttoknowwhetheryoustillsaythatadoublesquarecomesfromdoubleline？ Boy。Yes。 Soc。Butdoesnotthislinebecomedoubledifweaddanothersuchlinehere？ Boy。Certainly。 Soc。Andfoursuchlineswillmakeaspacecontainingeightfeet？ Boy。Yes。 Soc。Letusdescribesuchafigure：Wouldyounotsaythatthisisthefigureofeightfeet？ Boy。Yes。 Soc。Andaretherenotthesefourdivisionsinthefigure，eachofwhichisequaltothefigureoffourfeet？ Boy。True。 Soc。Andisnotthatfourtimesfour？ Boy。Certainly。 Soc。Andfourtimesisnotdouble？ Boy。No，indeed。 Soc。Buthowmuch？ Boy。Fourtimesasmuch。 Soc。Thereforethedoubleline，boy，hasgivenaspace，nottwice，butfourtimesasmuch。 Boy。True。 Soc。Fourtimesfouraresixteen—aretheynot？ Boy。Yes。 Soc。Whatlinewouldgiveyouaspaceofrightfeet，asthisgivesoneofsixteenfeet；—doyousee？ Boy。Yes。 Soc。Andthespaceoffourfeetismadefromthishalfline？ Boy。Yes。 Soc。Good；andisnotaspaceofeightfeettwicethesizeofthis，andhalfthesizeoftheother？ Boy。Certainly。 Soc。Suchaspace，then，willbemadeoutofalinegreaterthanthisone，andlessthanthatone？ Boy。Yes；Ithinkso。 Soc。Verygood；Iliketohearyousaywhatyouthink。Andnowtellme，isnotthisalineoftwofeetandthatoffour？ Boy。Yes。 Soc。Thenthelinewhichformsthesideofeightfeetoughttobemorethanthislineoftwofeet，andlessthantheotheroffourfeet？ Boy。Itought。 Soc。Tryandseeifyoucantellmehowmuchitwillbe。 Boy。Threefeet。 Soc。Thenifweaddahalftothislineoftwo，thatwillbethelineofthree。Herearetwoandthereisone；andontheotherside，herearetwoalsoandthereisone：andthatmakesthefigureofwhichyouspeak？ Boy。Yes。 Soc。Butiftherearethreefeetthiswayandthreefeetthatway，thewholespacewillbethreetimesthreefeet？ Boy。Thatisevident。 Soc。Andhowmucharethreetimesthreefeet？ Boy。Nine。 Soc。Andhowmuchisthedoubleoffour？ Boy。Eight。 Soc。Thenthefigureofeightisnotmadeoutofaofthree？ Boy。No。 Soc。Butfromwhatline？—tellmeexactly；andifyouwouldrathernotreckon，tryandshowmetheline。 Boy。Indeed，Socrates，Idonotknow。 Soc。Doyousee，Meno，whatadvanceshehasmadeinhispowerofrecollection？Hedidnotknowatfirst，andhedoesnotknownow，whatisthesideofafigureofeightfeet：butthenhethoughtthatheknew，andansweredconfidentlyasifheknew，andhadnodifficulty； nowhehasadifficulty，andneitherknowsnorfanciesthatheknows。 Men。True。 Soc。Ishenotbetteroffinknowinghisignorance？ Men。Ithinkthatheis。 Soc。Ifwehavemadehimdoubt，andgivenhimthe\"torpedo’sshock，\" havewedonehimanyharm？ Men。Ithinknot。 Soc。Wehavecertainly，aswouldseem，assistedhiminsomedegreetothediscoveryofthetruth；andnowhewillwishtoremedyhisignorance，butthenhewouldhavebeenreadytotellalltheworldagainandagainthatthedoublespaceshouldhaveadoubleside。 Men。True。 Soc。Butdoyousupposethathewouldeverhaveenquiredintoorlearnedwhathefanciedthatheknew，thoughhewasreallyignorantofit，untilhehadfallenintoperplexityundertheideathathedidnotknow，andhaddesiredtoknow？ Men。Ithinknot，Socrates。 Soc。Thenhewasthebetterforthetorpedo’stouch？ Men。Ithinkso。