teachers¡¡who¡¡will¡¡corrupt¡¡Meno¡¡£¨let¡¡them¡¡be£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡please£»¡¡the
Sophists£©£»¡¡I¡¡only¡¡ask¡¡you¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡him¡¡who¡¡there¡¡is¡¡in¡¡this¡¡great
city¡¡who¡¡will¡¡teach¡¡him¡¡how¡¡to¡¡become¡¡eminent¡¡in¡¡the¡¡virtues¡¡which¡¡I
was¡¡just£»¡¡now¡¡describing¡£¡¡He¡¡is¡¡the¡¡friend¡¡of¡¡your¡¡family£»¡¡and¡¡you
will¡¡oblige¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡Any¡£¡¡Why¡¡do¡¡you¡¡not¡¡tell¡¡him¡¡yourself£¿
¡¡¡¡Soc¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡told¡¡him¡¡whom¡¡I¡¡supposed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡teachers¡¡of¡¡these
things£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡learn¡¡from¡¡you¡¡that¡¡I¡¡am¡¡utterly¡¡at¡¡fault£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡dare
say¡¡that¡¡you¡¡are¡¡right¡£¡¡And¡¡now¡¡I¡¡wish¡¡that¡¡you£»¡¡on¡¡your¡¡part£»¡¡would
tell¡¡me¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡among¡¡the¡¡Athenians¡¡he¡¡should¡¡go¡£¡¡Whom¡¡would¡¡you¡¡name£¿
¡¡Any¡£¡¡Why¡¡single¡¡out¡¡individuals£¿¡¡Any¡¡Athenian¡¡gentleman£»¡¡taken¡¡at
random£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡will¡¡mind¡¡him£»¡¡will¡¡do¡¡far¡¡more£»¡¡good¡¡to¡¡him¡¡than¡¡the
Sophists¡£
¡¡¡¡Soc¡£¡¡And¡¡did¡¡those¡¡gentlemen¡¡grow¡¡of¡¡themselves£»¡¡and¡¡without
having¡¡been¡¡taught¡¡by¡¡any¡¡one£»¡¡were¡¡they¡¡nevertheless¡¡able¡¡to¡¡teach
others¡¡that¡¡which¡¡they¡¡had¡¡never¡¡learned¡¡themselves£¿
¡¡¡¡Any¡£¡¡I¡¡imagine¡¡that¡¡they¡¡learned¡¡of¡¡the¡¡previous¡¡generation¡¡of
gentlemen¡£¡¡Have¡¡there¡¡not¡¡been¡¡many¡¡good¡¡men¡¡in¡¡this¡¡city£¿
¡¡¡¡Soc¡£¡¡Yes£»¡¡certainly£»¡¡Anytus£»¡¡and¡¡many¡¡good¡¡statesmen¡¡also¡¡there
always¡¡have¡¡been¡¡and¡¡there¡¡are¡¡still£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡city¡¡of¡¡Athens¡£¡¡But¡¡the
question¡¡is¡¡whether¡¡they¡¡were¡¡also¡¡good¡¡teachers¡¡of¡¡their¡¡own
virtue£»¡not¡¡whether¡¡there¡¡are£»¡¡or¡¡have¡¡been£»¡¡good¡¡men¡¡in¡¡this¡¡part
of¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡but¡¡whether¡¡virtue¡¡can¡¡be¡¡taught£»¡¡is¡¡the¡¡question
which¡¡we¡¡have¡¡been¡¡discussing¡£¡¡Now£»¡¡do¡¡we¡¡mean¡¡to¡¡say¡¡that¡¡the¡¡good
men¡¡our¡¡own¡¡and¡¡of¡¡other¡¡times¡¡knew¡¡how¡¡to¡¡impart¡¡to¡¡others¡¡that
virtue¡¡which¡¡they¡¡had¡¡themselves£»¡¡or¡¡is¡¡virtue¡¡a¡¡thing¡¡incapable¡¡of
being¡¡communicated¡¡or¡¡imparted¡¡by¡¡one¡¡man¡¡to¡¡another£¿¡¡That¡¡is¡¡the
question¡¡which¡¡I¡¡and¡¡Meno¡¡have¡¡been¡¡arguing¡£¡¡Look¡¡at¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡in
your¡¡own¡¡way£º¡¡Would¡¡you¡¡not¡¡admit¡¡that¡¡Themistocles¡¡was¡¡a¡¡good¡¡man£¿
¡¡¡¡Any¡£¡¡Certainly£»¡¡no¡¡man¡¡better¡£
¡¡¡¡Soc¡£¡¡And¡¡must¡¡not¡¡he¡¡then¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡good¡¡teacher£»¡¡if¡¡any¡¡man
ever¡¡was¡¡a¡¡good¡¡teacher£»¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡virtue£¿
¡¡¡¡Any¡£¡¡Yes¡¡certainly£»¡if¡¡he¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡be¡¡so¡£
¡¡¡¡Soc¡£¡¡But¡¡would¡¡he¡¡not¡¡have¡¡wanted£¿¡¡He¡¡would£»¡¡at¡¡any¡¡rate£»¡¡have
desired¡¡to¡¡make¡¡his¡¡own¡¡son¡¡a¡¡good¡¡man¡¡and¡¡a¡¡gentleman£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not
have¡¡been¡¡jealous¡¡of¡¡him£»¡¡or¡¡have¡¡intentionally¡¡abstained¡¡from
imparting¡¡to¡¡him¡¡his¡¡own¡¡virtue¡£¡¡Did¡¡you¡¡never¡¡hear¡¡that¡¡he¡¡made¡¡his
son¡¡Cleophantus¡¡a¡¡famous¡¡horseman£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡him¡¡taught¡¡to¡¡stand¡¡upright
on¡¡horseback¡¡and¡¡hurl¡¡a¡¡javelin£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡do¡¡many¡¡other¡¡marvellous
things£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡anything¡¡which¡¡could¡¡be¡¡learned¡¡from¡¡a¡¡master¡¡he¡¡was
well¡¡trained£¿¡¡Have¡¡you¡¡not¡¡heard¡¡from¡¡our¡¡elders¡¡of¡¡him£¿
¡¡¡¡Any¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡£
¡¡¡¡Soc¡£¡¡Then¡¡no¡¡one¡¡could¡¡say¡¡that¡¡his¡¡son¡¡showed¡¡any¡¡want¡¡of¡¡capacity£¿
¡¡¡¡Any¡£¡¡Very¡¡likely¡¡not¡£
¡¡¡¡Soc¡£¡¡But¡¡did¡¡any¡¡one£»¡¡old¡¡or¡¡young£»¡¡ever¡¡say¡¡in¡¡your¡¡hearing¡¡that
Cleophantus£»¡¡son¡¡of¡¡Themistocles£»¡¡was¡¡a¡¡wise¡¡or¡¡good¡¡man£»¡¡as¡¡his
father¡¡was£¿
¡¡¡¡Any¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡certainly¡¡never¡¡heard¡¡any¡¡one¡¡say¡¡so¡£
¡¡¡¡Soc¡£¡¡And¡¡if¡¡virtue¡¡could¡¡have¡¡been¡¡taught£»¡¡would¡¡his¡¡father
Themistocles¡¡have¡¡sought¡¡to¡¡train¡¡him¡¡in¡¡these¡¡minor
accomplishments£»¡¡and¡¡allowed¡¡him¡¡who£»¡¡as¡¡you¡¡must¡¡remember£»¡¡was¡¡his
own¡¡son£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡no¡¡better¡¡than¡¡his¡¡neighbours¡¡in¡¡those¡¡qualities¡¡in
which¡¡he¡¡himself¡¡excelled£¿
¡¡¡¡Any¡£¡¡Indeed£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡I¡¡think¡¡not¡£
¡¡¡¡Soc¡£¡¡Here¡¡was¡¡a¡¡teacher¡¡of¡¡virtue¡¡whom¡¡you¡¡admit¡¡to¡¡be¡¡among¡¡the
best¡¡men¡¡of¡¡the¡¡past¡£¡¡Let¡¡us¡¡take¡¡another£»¡Aristides£»¡¡the¡¡son¡¡of
Lysimachus£º¡¡would¡¡you¡¡not¡¡acknowledge¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡good¡¡man£¿
¡¡¡¡Any¡£¡¡To¡¡be¡¡sure¡¡I¡¡should¡£
¡¡¡¡Soc¡£¡¡And¡¡did¡¡not¡¡he¡¡train¡¡his¡¡son¡¡Lysimachus¡¡better¡¡than¡¡any¡¡other
Athenian¡¡in¡¡all¡¡that¡¡could¡¡be¡¡done¡¡for¡¡him¡¡by¡¡the¡¡help¡¡of¡¡masters£¿¡¡But
what¡¡has¡¡been¡¡the¡¡result£¿¡¡Is¡¡he¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡better¡¡than¡¡any¡¡other¡¡mortal£¿¡¡He
is¡¡an¡¡acquaintance¡¡of¡¡yours£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡see¡¡what¡¡he¡¡is¡¡like¡£¡¡There¡¡is
Pericles£»¡¡again£»¡¡magnificent¡¡in¡¡his¡¡wisdom£»¡¡and¡¡he£»¡¡as¡¡you¡¡are
aware£»¡¡had¡¡two¡¡sons£»¡¡Paralus¡¡and¡¡Xanthippus¡£
¡¡¡¡Any¡£¡¡I¡¡know¡£
¡¡¡¡Soc¡£¡¡And¡¡you¡¡know£»¡¡also£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡taught¡¡them¡¡to¡¡be¡¡unrivalled
horsemen£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡them¡¡trained¡¡in¡¡music¡¡and¡¡gymnastics¡¡and¡¡all¡¡sorts
of¡¡arts¡in¡¡these¡¡respects¡¡they¡¡were¡¡on¡¡a¡¡level¡¡with¡¡the¡¡best¡and¡¡had
he¡¡no¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡make¡¡good¡¡men¡¡of¡¡them£¿¡¡Nay£»¡¡he¡¡must¡¡have¡¡wished¡¡it¡£
But¡¡virtue£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡suspect£»¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡taught¡£¡¡And¡¡that¡¡you¡¡may¡¡not
suppose¡¡the¡¡incompetent¡¡teachers¡¡to¡¡be¡¡only¡¡the¡¡meaner¡¡sort¡¡of
Athenians¡¡and¡¡few¡¡in¡¡number£»¡¡remember¡¡again¡¡that¡¡Thucydides¡¡had¡¡two
sons£»¡¡Melesias¡¡and¡¡Stephanus£»¡¡whom£»¡¡besides¡¡giving¡¡them¡¡a¡¡good
education¡¡in¡¡other¡¡things£»¡¡he¡¡trained¡¡in¡¡wrestling£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡were
the¡¡best¡¡wrestlers¡¡in¡¡Athens£º¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡he¡¡committed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡care
of¡¡Xanthias£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡other¡¡of¡¡Eudorus£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡the¡¡reputation¡¡of¡¡being
the¡¡most¡¡celebrated¡¡wrestlers¡¡of¡¡that¡¡day¡£¡¡Do¡¡you¡¡remember¡¡them£¿
¡¡¡¡Any¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡them¡£
¡¡¡¡Soc¡£¡¡Now£»¡¡can¡¡there¡¡be¡¡a¡¡doubt¡¡that¡¡Thucydides£»¡¡whose¡¡children
were¡¡taught¡¡things¡¡for¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡to¡¡spend¡¡money£»¡¡would¡¡have
taught¡¡them¡¡to¡¡be¡¡good¡¡men£»¡¡which¡¡would¡¡have¡¡cost¡¡him¡¡nothing£»¡¡if
virtue¡¡could¡¡have¡¡been¡¡taught£¿¡¡Will¡¡you¡¡reply¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡mean
man£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡not¡¡many¡¡friends¡¡among¡¡the¡¡Athenians¡¡and¡¡allies£¿¡¡Nay£»¡¡but
he¡¡was¡¡of¡¡a¡¡great¡¡family£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡man¡¡of¡¡influence¡¡at¡¡Athens¡¡and¡¡in
all¡¡Hellas£»¡¡and£»¡¡if¡¡virtue¡¡could¡¡have¡¡been¡¡taught£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡found
out¡¡some¡¡Athenian¡¡or¡¡foreigner¡¡who¡¡would¡¡have¡¡made¡¡good¡¡men¡¡of¡¡his
sons£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡himself¡¡spare¡¡the¡¡time¡¡from¡¡cares¡¡of¡¡state¡£¡¡Once
more£»¡¡I¡¡suspect£»¡¡friend¡¡Anytus£»¡¡that¡¡virtue¡¡is¡¡not¡¡a¡¡thing¡¡which¡¡can
be¡¡taught£¿
¡¡¡¡Any¡£¡¡Socrates£»¡¡I¡¡think¡¡that¡¡you¡¡are¡¡too¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡evil¡¡of
men£º¡¡and£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡will¡¡take¡¡my¡¡advice£»¡¡I¡¡would¡¡recommend¡¡you¡¡to¡¡be
careful¡£¡¡Perhaps¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡city¡¡in¡¡which¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡easier¡¡to¡¡do
men¡¡harm¡¡than¡¡to¡¡do¡¡them¡¡good£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡is¡¡certainly¡¡the¡¡case¡¡at
Athens£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡you¡¡know¡£
¡¡¡¡Soc¡£¡¡O¡¡Meno£»¡¡think¡¡that¡¡Anytus¡¡is¡¡in¡¡a¡¡rage¡£¡¡And¡¡he¡¡may¡¡well¡¡be¡¡in¡¡a
rage£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡thinks£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡first¡¡place£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡am¡¡defaming¡¡these
gentlemen£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡second¡¡place£»¡¡he¡¡is¡¡of¡¡opinion¡¡that¡¡he¡¡is¡¡one¡¡of
them¡¡himself¡£¡¡But¡¡some¡¡day¡¡he¡¡will¡¡know¡¡what¡¡is¡¡the¡¡meaning¡¡of
defamation£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡he¡¡ever¡¡does£»¡¡he¡¡will¡¡forgive¡¡me¡£¡¡Meanwhile¡¡I
will¡¡return¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¡Meno£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡suppose¡¡that¡¡there¡¡are¡¡gentlemen¡¡in
your¡¡region¡¡too£¿
¡¡¡¡Men¡£¡¡Certainly¡¡there¡¡are¡£
¡¡¡¡Soc¡£¡¡And¡¡are¡¡they¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡teach¡¡the¡¡young£¿¡¡and¡¡do¡¡they¡¡profess¡¡to
be¡¡teachers£¿¡¡and¡¡do¡¡they¡¡agree¡¡that¡¡virtue¡¡is¡¡taught£¿
¡¡¡¡Men¡£¡¡No¡¡indeed£»¡¡Socrates£»¡¡they¡¡are¡¡anything¡¡but¡¡agreed£»¡¡you¡¡may¡¡hear
them¡¡saying¡¡at¡¡one¡¡time¡¡that¡¡virtue¡¡can¡¡be¡¡taught£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡again
the¡¡reverse¡£
¡¡¡¡Soc¡£¡¡Can¡¡we¡¡call¡¡those¡¡teachers¡¡who¡¡do¡¡not¡¡acknowledge¡¡the
possibility¡¡of¡¡their¡¡own¡¡vocation£¿
¡¡¡¡Men¡£¡¡I¡¡think¡¡not£»¡¡Socrates¡£
¡¡¡¡Soc¡£¡¡And¡¡what¡¡do¡¡you¡¡think¡¡of¡¡these¡¡Sophists£»¡¡who¡¡are¡¡the¡¡only
professors£¿¡¡Do¡¡they¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡you¡¡to¡¡be¡¡teachers¡¡of¡¡virtue£¿
¡¡¡¡Men¡£¡¡I¡¡often¡¡wonder£»¡¡Socrates£»¡¡that¡¡Gorgias¡¡is¡¡never¡¡heard¡¡promising
to¡¡teach¡¡virtue£º¡¡and¡¡when¡¡he¡¡hears¡¡others¡¡promising¡¡he¡¡only¡¡laughs
at¡¡them£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡thinks¡¡that¡¡men¡¡should¡¡be¡¡taught¡¡to¡¡speak¡£
¡¡¡¡Soc¡£¡¡Then¡¡do¡¡you¡¡not¡¡think¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Sophists¡¡are¡¡teachers£¿
¡¡¡¡Men¡£¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡tell¡¡you£»¡¡Socrates£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡I¡¡am
in¡¡doubt£»¡¡and¡¡sometimes¡¡I¡¡think¡¡that¡¡they¡¡are¡¡teachers¡¡and¡¡sometimes
not¡£
¡¡¡¡Soc¡£¡¡And¡¡are¡¡you¡¡aware¡¡that¡¡not¡¡you¡¡only¡¡and¡¡other¡¡politicians
have¡¡doubts¡¡whether¡¡virtue¡¡can¡¡be¡¡taught¡¡or¡¡not£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡Theognis¡¡the
poet¡¡says¡¡the¡¡very¡¡same¡¡thing£¿
¡¡¡¡Men¡£¡¡Where¡¡does¡¡he¡¡say¡¡so£¿
¡¡¡¡Soc¡£¡¡In¡¡these¡¡elegiac¡¡verses£º
¡¡¡¡Eat¡¡and¡¡drink¡¡and¡¡sit¡¡with¡¡the¡¡mighty£»¡¡and¡¡make¡¡yourself¡¡agreeable
to¡¡them£»¡¡for¡¡from¡¡the¡¡good¡¡you¡¡will¡¡learn¡¡what¡¡is¡¡good£»¡¡but¡¡if¡¡you¡¡mix
with¡¡the¡¡bad¡¡you¡¡will¡¡lose¡¡the¡¡intelligence¡¡which¡¡you¡¡already¡¡have¡£
Do¡¡you¡¡observe¡¡that¡¡here¡¡he¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡imply¡¡that¡¡virtue¡¡can¡¡be¡¡taught£¿
¡¡¡¡Men¡£¡¡Clearly¡£
¡¡¡¡Soc¡£¡¡But¡¡in¡¡some¡¡other¡¡verses¡¡he¡¡shifts¡¡about¡¡and¡¡says£º
¡¡¡¡If¡¡understanding¡¡could¡¡be¡¡created¡¡and¡¡put¡¡into¡¡a¡¡man£»¡¡then¡¡they¡¡£§who
were¡¡able¡¡to¡¡perform¡¡this¡¡feat£§¡¡would¡¡have¡¡obtained¡¡great¡¡rewards¡£
And¡¡again£º¡
¡¡¡¡Never¡¡would¡¡a¡¡bad¡¡son¡¡have¡¡sprung¡¡from¡¡a¡¡good¡¡sire£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡would
have¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡voice¡¡of¡¡instruction£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡by¡¡teaching¡¡will¡¡you¡¡ever
make¡¡a¡¡bad¡¡man¡¡into¡¡a¡¡good¡¡one¡£
And¡¡this£»¡¡as¡¡you¡¡may¡¡remark£»¡¡is¡¡a¡¡contradiction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡other¡£
¡¡¡¡Men¡£¡¡Clearly¡£
¡¡¡¡Soc¡£¡¡And¡¡is¡¡there¡¡anything¡¡else¡¡of¡¡which¡¡the¡¡professors¡¡are¡¡affirmed
not¡¡only¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡teachers¡¡of¡¡others£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡be¡¡ignorant
themselves£»¡¡and¡¡bad¡¡at¡¡the¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡that¡¡which¡¡they¡¡are¡¡professing
to¡¡teach£¿¡¡or¡¡is¡¡there¡¡anything¡¡about¡¡which¡¡even¡¡the¡¡acknowledged
¡¨gentlemen¡¨¡¡are¡¡sometimes¡¡saying¡¡that¡¡¡¨this¡¡thing¡¡can¡¡be¡¡taught£»¡¨
and¡¡sometimes¡¡the¡¡opposite£¿¡¡Can¡¡you¡¡say¡¡that¡¡they¡¡are¡¡teachers¡¡in
any¡¡true¡¡sense¡¡whose¡¡ideas¡¡are¡¡in¡¡such¡¡confusion£¿
¡¡¡¡Men¡£¡¡I¡¡should¡¡say£»¡¡certainly¡¡not¡£
¡¡¡¡Soc¡£¡¡But¡¡if¡¡neither¡¡the¡¡Sophists¡¡nor¡¡the¡¡gentlemen¡¡are¡¡teachers£»
clearly¡¡there¡¡can¡¡be¡¡no¡¡other¡¡teachers£¿
¡¡¡¡Men¡£¡¡No¡£
¡¡¡¡Soc¡£¡¡And¡¡if¡¡there¡¡are¡¡no¡¡tea
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£
ÔÞÒ»ÏÂ
Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü