Meno Argument Analysis

Meno Argument

The Meno argument written by Plato was intended to point out the flaw of our knowledge. Meno is able to shine a light on the fact that we do not know how to obtain knowledge or know the validity of information we use. Plato’s dialogue begins by having Meno request a definition of virtue or at least an established commonality between different virtues to Aristotle. The reason for wanting a definition of virtue is to be able to support a concept of foundational knowledge. If a truthful foundation for knowledge existed philosopher would be able to eliminate their doubts of reality and develop new knowledge on the premises of an undeniable truth. Socrates answers Meno’s problem by explaining how humans have immortal soul; where

people develop knowledge though time, not through one lifetime but many lifetimes. Socrates solves Meno’s problem by showing individuals have innate knowledge that is store within and is unlocked when needed. Aristotle using his writing in Posterior Analytics gives a different answer to Meno’s problem. Aristotle believes knowledge is gained through experience and demonstration. Sense perception and sensations play an essential role in obtaining knowledge; since they are the tools that allow us to experience contributing to our perception of knowledge. Aristotle solves the concerns of skepticism by emphasizing the importance of demonstrations. The demonstration of an object’s abilities can determine their true knowledge. When an individual is able to view and experience facts they can create objective facts that are valid. I believe Aristotle’s tool to knowledge allows a person to judge a fact and determine their purpose while the concept of innate knowledge by Socrates can easy be viewed as the use of our perception, which is Aristotle’s tool to knowledge.
The Plato’s dialogue begins with Meno’s question of what is virtue and trying to determine the commonality between different virtues to establish one common definition.

Socrates’ response to Meno does not include a solution but a bigger problem “ I have never met anyone else I thought did know”. Socrates unable to provide a solution; but rather states he has never been able to find anyone who has a clear definition of virtue or any term. As the conversation escalates into subjects that need certainty, Meno comes to the realization of a bigger problem. How do we obtain knowledge? Since we already posses some knowledge how do we know that knowledge is true and how did we come to possess knowledge? Meno indicates the problem of obtaining knowledge eventually becomes paradoxical. How can individuals learn new topics without having learned the ability to learn? We cannot obtain definitions of concepts if we have never had the certainty of our ability to learn. Meno shining a light on the fact that we are never certain of the reliability of new facts, even if we had background information on a subject. How can we confirm the truth of the information we would use to confirm new knowledge? Meno’s paradox is unsolvable because we have not developed a method of obtaining knowledge that contains a stepping-stone to knowledge. Which it seems impossible to have a stepping-stone since we do not know what knowledge is. Meno even tries to explain if we were to bump into reliable knowledge

we would have no method to confirm the knowledge is true. “Even if you do happen to bump right into it, how are you going to know that it is the thing you did not know?” Meno express the problem to be our inability to gain knowledge since we have no knowledge of knowledge.
Meno’s paradox creates a discussion between Plato and Aristotle where they both have different answers to the conquest of knowledge.
Socrates states we are all born with the tools to gain knowledge without doubting ourselves. Socrates believes we have innate features provided by our immortal souls. Socrates believes human have internal locked knowledge that emerges once we find the knowledge necessary. The way we acquired this knowledge is though time, as our souls are immortal their experience though time is stored in our internal providing innate knowledge. Socrates calls the concept of gaining knowledge from the internal is called “Recollection”. Socrates proves we all have innate knowledge, irrelevant to an individuals’ level of education. Socrates using the slave boy example demonstrates how all individuals have knowledge regardless of their education. Socrates begins his experiment by asking the slave boy simple questions of mathematics, which eventually lead the slave boy to solve a math question independently without prior knowledge. Socrates using the slave boy example presents the ability to learn resides with the concept of recollections. How recollection can elevate an individual’s knowledge, as information is needed.
Socrates view on knowledge is enforced and explained through his concept of recollection. Socrates supports his idea by believing knowledge is gained though our souls being immortal. This is how Socrates explains why our innate knowledge is locked. I believe Socrates’ view would provide a quick response to individuals using their critical thinking skills like the slave boy. The slave boy in my opinion was able to answer Socrates mathematical question through perception and assumption leaving no space for innate knowledge. I believe Socrates’ view is flawed because the idea of unlocking knowledge requires learning about the subject, therefore the paradox of learning knowledge still exist. We can also point out the requirement of clarification of knowledge, how can we be certain innate knowledge is accurate? As Meno previously stated we can bump into reliable facts but without confirmation we would remain uncertain of those facts.
Aristotle also addresses Plato’s Meno argument through his writing of Posterior Analytics. Aristotle agrees with Plato to the extent that we need to have prior knowledge, not specifically innate knowledge. Aristotle believes we have two kinds of prior knowledge. The first knowledge is to “assume in advance that they are and the other is necessary to understand what the thing being said is”. Aristotle believes we need to assume a position belief and view a demonstration to either confirm or deny our assumptions leaving us with valid knowledge. Aristotle calls prior knowledge, scientific knowledge that is universal or intrinsic. Aristotle being aware of the flaws of certain beliefs attempts to persuade the reader with the use of perception. Aristotle relies on demonstration to illustrate how we can create truthful knowledge. Knowledge developed though the scientific knowledge (universally) is gained though the use of perception or sensation, which trigger memories eventually leading to knowledge filtered though our experiences. Aristotle is aware that any animal has perception but the use of memory by humans leads to accurate knowledge. Aristotle’s challenge to the Meno paradox points out the use of our perception. Aristotle states, “There is no knowledge apart from perceiving”; we are unable to become informed of knowledge without the tool of perception. Aristotle is aware of the deception bought up by our perception. That is why he believes perception is a tool towards knowledge not the sole truthful information we gain. Aristotle suggests we analyze the characteristics of an object to be able to determine its knowledge. Aristotle does point out using perception and demonstration does not provide knowledge on why an object does something but rather provide accurate information on what an object does.
Aristotle does not use the concept of innate ideas bought upon by Socrates in the contrary; Aristotle states that we use our perception or sensations to determine knowledge and facts.

Socrates’ concept of innate ideas tends to fail when individuals cannot access their innate knowledge such as their sense of texture, taste or sight. Aristotle unlike Socrates states that we use perception as a tool towards knowledge where we assume facts to determine their validity. This is exactly what Socrates accidently does when presenting knowledge to the slave boy. Socrates presents his idea of innate knowledge when having an individual who has never been educated present independent facts of shapes. Socrates explains the slave boy was able to present knowledge because they were internally in him. Aristotle can actually point out how Socrates uses perception to display facts to the slave boy. When the boy uses his perception to obtain facts he is actually learning new facts. Socrates demonstrated to the slave boy facts, which the slave boy confirmed with his perception. The slave boy did not have innate knowledge of the shapes presented to him but he did have the tool of perception to guide him to the correct assumption

(demonstration).
I believe Aristotle theory of knowledge best illustrates how we gain knowledge and a understanding after being confronted with Meno’s knowledge paradox. Meno establishes his argument off the frustration of not being able to acquire a definition of virtue. The reason Meno was unable to acquire a definition for Virtue is because the term is defined by subjective factors. The Posterior Analytic argument established by Aristotle states that teaching and learning come from our ability to comprehend issues and topics through demonstration. Aristotle makes clear the way we know we are learning is from the realization of a topic. We need to visualize an object to determine their attitudes and characteristics that is how we obtain knowledge using our sensations and perception for certainty.