Hume essays

Hume essays In the Meno, Plato justifies the possibility for ones mind to uncover knowledge. Knowing one can obtain knowledge motivates the mind to gain more knowledge. Plato explains the theory of recollection by first questioning what virtue is, then demonstrating the process through the questioning of a slave boy. Although a few weaknesses present themselves in Platos argument, Plato presents a valid theory on how our minds can obtain knowledge. The discussion of Platos theory of recollection evolved from a single question, What is virtue? When questioning Meno on the single definition of virtue, Plato was never satisfied. He never accepted Menos answers because Meno gave virtuous definitions, not virtues definition. For example, Meno claimed, if you want a womans virtue, that is easily described. She must be a good housewife, careful with her stores and obedient to her husband. Then there is another virtue for a child, male or female, and another for an old man, free or slave (Platos Meno). All of these are examples of how a persons role becomes virtuous but never defines what virtue really is. Plato questions Menos self-knowledge of virtue, but Meno expounds virtuous characteristics rather than giving a definition of virtue. This presents a problem because if Meno does not know what virtue really is, then he cannot apply which characteristics associate with virtue and which do not. When Plato asks, Does anyone know what a part of virtue is, without knowing the whole? (Platos Meno), Meno agrees this is simply impossible. This presents a logical argument against Menos definition(s) of virtue. Plato believes the conversation to search for what virtue really is should continue despite achieving no success in their first efforts to form a satisfactory definition. Meno becomes very aggravated with Plato and proposes ...