Reading Questions
Plato - Meno

1. What is the first question that Meno asks Socrates?  What does Socrates do in response?
2. What is Meno's first explanation of virtue?  What does Socrates say about it? In particular, what is the point Socrates is making about the bees?
3. What is the point of Socrates' discussion of color and figure?
4. Try to sketch Socrates' argument(s) about whether there is anyone who truly desires evil things.
5. What ends up being Socrates' complaint about Meno's first definition of virtue?
6. What problem does Meno raise for Socrates about how to proceed in their inquiry?
7. What does Socrates say learning really is?  Pay close attention to how he attempts to prove this to Meno.  What does Socrates do to illustrate what learning really is?
8. When Meno wants to return to his first question, Socrates proposes a different approach to answering that question.  Explain Socrates' approach.
9. Why does Socrates doubt the results of their latest investigation? (Consider the conversation with Anytus.)
10. What conclusion about virtue does Socrates finally come to?