Meno 18

Socrates: And indeed I too speak as one who does not know (Kai\ mh\n kai\ e0gw_ w(j ou0k ei0dw_j le/gw) but only conjectures (a0ll’ ei0ka/zwn): yet  that there is a difference between right opinion and knowledge (o3ti de/ e0sti/ ti a0lloi=on o0rqh\ do/ca kai\ e0pisth/mh) is not at all a conjecture with me (ou0 pa/nu moi dokw~ tou=to ei0ka/zein) but something I would particularly assert that I knew: there are not many things of which I would say that, but this one, at any rate, I would include among those I knew (a0ll’ ei1per ti a1llo fai/hn a2n ei0de/nai, o0li/ga d’ a2n fai/hn, e4n d’ ou]n kai\ tou=to e0kei/nwn qei/hn a2n w{n oi]da).

Meno: Yes, and you are right, Socrates, in so saying (Kai\ o0rqw~j ge, w} Sw&kratej, le/geij).

Socrates: Well, then (Ti/ de/;), am I not right also in saying (to/de ou0k o0rqw~j) that true opinion leading the way (o3ti a0lhqh\j do/ca h9goume/nh) renders the effect of each action as good as knowledge does (to\ e1rgon e9ka/sthj th=j pra/cewj ou0de\n xei=ron a0perga/zetai h2 e0pisth/mh;)?

Meno: There again, Socrates, I think you speak the truth (Kai\ tou=to dokei=j moi a0lhqh= le/gein).

Socrates: So that right opinion will be no whit inferior to knowledge in worth or usefulness as regards our actions (Ou0de\n a1ra o0rqh\ do/ca e0pisth/mhj xei=ron ou0d\e\ h3tton w)feli/mh e1stai ei0j ta\j pra/ceij), nor will the man who has right opinion be inferior to him who has knowledge (ou0de\ a0nh\r o9 e1xwn o0rqh\n do/can h2 o9 e0pisth/mhn).

Meno: That is so (E!sti tau=ta).

Socrates: And you know that the good man has been admitted by us to be useful (Kai\ mh\n o3 ge a0gaqo\j a0nh\r w)fe/limoj h9mi=n w(molo/ghtai ei]nai).

Meno: Yes (Nai/).

Socrates: Since then it is not only because of knowledge that men will be good and useful to their country (E)peidh\ toi/nun ou0 mo/non di’ e0pisth/mhn a0gaqoi\ a1ndrej a2n ei]en kai\ w)fe/limoi tai=j po/lesin), where such men are to be found (ei1per ei]en), but also on account of right opinion (a0lla\ kai\ di’ o0rqh\n do/can); and since neither of these two things – knowledge and true opinion – is a natural property of mankind (tou/toin de\ ou0de/teron fu/sei e0sti\ toi=j a0nqrw&poij, ou1te e0pisth/mh ou1te do/ca a0lhqh/j), being acquired (o1nt’ e0pi/kthta) – or do you think that either of them is natural (h2 dokei= soi fu/sei o9poteronou=n au0toi=n ei]nai;)?

Meno: Not I (Ou0k e1moige).

Socrates: Then if they are not natural (Ou0kou=n e0peidh\ ou0 fu/sei), good people cannot be good by nature either (ou0de\ oi9 a0gaqoi\ fu/sei ei]en a1n).

Meno: Of course not (Ou0 dh=ta).

Socrates: And since they are not an effect of nature (E)peidh\ de/ ge ou0 fu/sei), we next considered (e0skopou=men to\ meta\ tou=to) whether virtue can be taught (ei0 didakto/n e0stin).

Meno: Yes (Nai/).

Socrates: And we thought it teachable (Ou0kou=n didakto\n e1docen ei]nai), if virtue is wisdom (ei0 fro/nhsij h9 a0reth/;).

Meno: Yes (Nai/).

Socrates: And if teachable, it must be wisdom (Ka2n ei1 ge didakto\n ei1h, fro/nhsij a2n ei]nai)?

Meno: Certainly (Pa/nu ge)

Socrates: And if there were teachers (Kai\ ei0 me/n ge dida/skaloi ei]en), it could be taught (didakto\n a2n ei]nai), but if there were none (mh\ o1ntwn de/), it could not (ou0 didakto/n;)?

Meno: Quite so (Ou3twj).

Socrates: But surely we acknowledged (A0lla\ mh\n w(mologh/kamen) that it had no teachers (mh\ ei]nai au0tou= didaska/louj;)?

Meno: That is true (E!sti tau=ta).

Socrates: Then we acknowledged (W(mologh/kamen a1ra) it neither was taught (mh/te didakto\n au0to/) nor was wisdom (mh/te fro/nhsin ei]nai;)?

Meno: Certainly (Pa/nu ge).

Socrates: But yet we admitted it was good (A0lla\ mh\n a0gaqo/n ge au0to\ o9mologou=men ei]nai;)?

Meno: Yes (Nai/).

Socrates: And that which guides rightly is useful and good (W)fe/limon de\ kai\ a0gaqo\n ei]nai to\ o0rqw~j h9gou/menon;)?

Meno: Certainly (Pa/nu ge).

Socrates: And that there are only two things – true opinion and knowledge – that guide rightly and a man guides rightly if he has these (O)rqw~j de/ ge h9gei=sqai du/o o1nta tau=ta mo/na, do/can te a0lhqh= kai\ e0pisth/mhn, a4 e1xwn a1nqrwpoj o0rqw~j h9gei=tai); for things that come about by chance do not occur through human guidance (ta\ ga\r a0po\ tu/xhj gigno/mena ou0k a0nqrwpi/nh| h(gemoni/a| gi/gnetai); but where a man is a guide to what is right we find these two things true opinion and knowledge (w{n de\ a1nqrwpoj h9gemw&n e0stin e0pi\ to\ o0rqo/n, du/o tau=ta, do/ca a0lhqh\j kai\ e0pisth/mh).

Meno: I agree (Dokei= moi ou3twj).