When I return to Plato, I should like to focus on Socrates’ closing words in the Meno:
‘It is now
time for me (nun d’ emoi men hȏra) to go my way (poi ienai), but do you persuade
our friend Anytus of that whereof you are now yourself persuaded (su de
tauta haper autos pepeisai peithe kai ton xenon tonde Anuton), so as to put
him in a gentler mood (hina praioteros ȇi); for if you can persuade him (hȏs ean peisȇis touton), you will do a good turn to the
people of Athens also (estin ho ti kai Athȇnaious onȇseis).’ (Translation W.R.M. Lamb)
What is it
that Meno was persuaded of? Any meaningful answer to this question should make
it clear in what way Meno’s persuading Anytus of it would benefit the people of
Athens.
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