On Virtue: From Socrates (vegetarian) in “Meno” by Plato (vegetarian), Part 1 of 2

Today it is a pleasure to share excerpts from “Meno” by Plato (vegetarian) translated by Benjamin Jowett. Here, Socrates and young Meno have a discussion on what virtue is.

Discussion on Virtue

“[…] Socrates pondered: ‘And, in your opinion, do those who think that they will do them good know that they are evils?’ Meno confirmed: ‘Certainly not.’ Socrates exclaimed: ‘Is it not obvious that those who are ignorant of their nature do not desire them; but they desire what they suppose to be goods although they are really evils; and if they are mistaken and suppose the evils to be goods, they really desire goods?’ Meno agreed: ‘Yes, in that case.’ […]

Socrates delved deeper and asked: ‘And does anyone desire to be miserable and ill-fated?’ Meno replied: ‘I should say not, Socrates.’ Socrates continued: ‘But if there is no one who desires to be miserable, there is no one, Meno, who desires evil; for what is misery but the desire and possession of evil?’ Meno stated: ‘That appears to be the truth, Socrates, and I admit that nobody desires evil.’ […]

Socrates then pondered: ‘And if one man is not better than another in desiring good, he must be better in the power of attaining it?’ Meno replied: ‘Exactly.’ Socrates thus concluded: ‘Then, according to your definition, virtue would appear to be the power of attaining good?’ […] Socrates continued: ‘Then, according to Meno, who is the hereditary friend of the great King, virtue is the power of getting silver and gold; and would you add that they must be gained piously, justly, or do you deem this to be of no consequence? And is any mode of acquisition, even if unjust and dishonest, equally to be deemed virtue?’ Meno clarified: ‘Not virtue, Socrates, but vice.’ Socrates expounded: ‘Then justice or temperance or holiness, or some other part of virtue, as would appear, must accompany the acquisition, and without them the mere acquisition of good will not be virtue.’ Meno exclaimed: ‘Why, how can there be virtue without these?’ Socrates questioned further: ‘And the non-acquisition of gold and silver in a dishonest manner for oneself or another, or in other words, the want of them, may be equally virtue?’ Meno replied: ‘True.’ Socrates continued: ‘Then the acquisition of such goods is no more virtue than the non-acquisition and want of them, but whatever is accompanied by justice or honesty is virtue, and whatever is devoid of justice is vice.’ […]”