The Meno by Plato. - HTML preview

60

Meno

SOCRATES: Has any of the Sophists wronged you, who will teach him how to become eminent in Anytus? What makes you so angry with them?

the virtues which I was just now describing. He is ANYTUS: No, indeed, neither I nor any of my the friend of your family, and you will oblige him.

belongings has ever had, nor would I suffer them ANYTUS: Why do you not tell him yourself?

to have, anything to do with them.

SOCRATES: I have told him whom I supposed to SOCRATES: Then you are entirely unacquainted be the teachers of these things; but I learn from with them?

you that I am utterly at fault, and I dare say that ANYTUS: And I have no wish to be acquainted.

you are right. And now I wish that you, on your SOCRATES: Then, my dear friend, how can you part, would tell me to whom among the Athe-know whether a thing is good or bad of which nians he should go. Whom would you name?

you are wholly ignorant?

ANYTUS: Why single out individuals? Any Athe-ANYTUS: Quite well; I am sure that I know what nian gentleman, taken at random, if he will mind manner of men these are, whether I am ac-him, will do far more good to him than the Soph-quainted with them or not.

ists.

SOCRATES: You must be a diviner, Anytus, for I SOCRATES: And did those gentlemen grow of really cannot make out, judging from your own themselves; and without having been taught by words, how, if you are not acquainted with them, any one, were they nevertheless able to teach oth-you know about them. But I am not enquiring of ers that which they had never learned themselves?

you who are the teachers who will corrupt Meno ANYTUS: I imagine that they learned of the pre-

(let them be, if you please, the Sophists); I only vious generation of gentlemen. Have there not ask you to tell him who there is in this great city been many good men in this city?