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Comparison Essay on Fall of the Roman Empire
Near Essay â⬠Step By STEP 1 â⬠Diagnosis â⬠¢ Read the Question and stall down in for what it is asking â⬠¢ In the Margin, dec...
Friday, January 10, 2020
EMC Limited Essay
The question is about whether EMC Limited should disclose to the ASX that it is currently having private discussions with Elco Ltd about a possible merger. I do not think that it is required to disclose. Context The ASX has issued Guidance Note 8 ââ¬â Continuous Disclosure regime and indicated in Rule 3.1 that listed companies must immediately notify ASX of any information which may have a material effect on the price or value of the entityââ¬â¢s shares or affect investment decisions, and information in which shareholders, investors and ASX have a legitimate interest. This regime also has statutory backing in Section 674, 675 and 677 of Corporations Act. The objectives of this regime are to provide timely information and fair access to information for market participants. When considering whether a disclosure is required or not, the companies need to Identify whether the information to have a material effect on the price or value of the entityââ¬â¢s shares; Decide whether the information would affect investment decisions; Consider whether the ASX and shareholders have a legitimate interest. If the companies find that the answer to all these questions is ââ¬Å"Yesâ⬠then they need to further consider whether 1. A reasonable person would not expect the information to be disclosed; 2. The information is confidential 3. One or more of the following applies It would be a breach of law to disclose The information includes an incomplete proposal The information is insufficiently definite The information is foe internal management purpose The information is a trade secret If the answer to all these three questions is ââ¬Å"Yesâ⬠then a disclosure is not required to be made. Argument In this case, this potential merger would probably have a material effect on the price or value of the entityââ¬â¢s shares and affect investment decisions.
Thursday, January 2, 2020
The Screening I Attended Called Packed Through A Trunk ...
The screening I attended called ââ¬Å"Packed in a Trunk: The Lost Art of Edith Lake Wilkinsonâ⬠was based during the early 20th century. It was about a woman artist named Edith Lake Wilkinson, who was sent to an insane asylum and no longer heard of thereafter. Jane Anderson, her great-niece, who documented her findings and research on Edith was influenced at a very early age by Edithââ¬â¢s art which was present all through her home. It also talked about how Edith had a companion named Fannie which was most likely her partner therefore, indicating that Edith was gay. The Wilkinson family s lawyer, who was in charge of their estate was suspecting of Edithââ¬â¢s relationship in a letter that he gave her saying it was not wise for them to be so close. As a result, he separated them and eventually stole her inheritance by sending her to an insane asylum. The purpose of Jane Anderson was to rescue all of Edithââ¬â¢s work and return it to her hometown, Provincetown. This event is relevant to policies regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights such as same-sex marriage and discrimination against sexual orientation or gender. Jane Andersonââ¬â¢s great aunt, Edith who was a lesbian was living a life hidden from society in which being gay was not only prohibited, but it was also suppressed. This prejudice was apparent given the fact that she was judged by her family s lawyer of being gay and it was easier for him to deceivingly institute her in an insane asylum. This specific example
Wednesday, December 25, 2019
The Ultimate Solution for Buy a College Term Paper
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Tuesday, December 17, 2019
The Function of Lips and Their Biological Significance Essays
The Function of Lips and Their Biological Significance Lipids are biological molecules and are insoluble in aqueous solutions but are soluble in organic solvents. Specific lipids have a physiological importance to humans; they have three major functions; serving as structural components of biological membranes, act as vitamins and hormones, provide energy storage (triaculglycerols). Lipids are made up of the elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Lipids can exist as fats, oils and waxes. Fat and oils are similar in structure as they are triglycerides, however, they physically differ at room temperature fats are solid and oils liquid. Their differences in property are what help contribute to itsâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦This is useful as fats and oils release roughly twice as much energy in comparison to carbohydrates. Triglycerides have a high proportion of hydrogen atoms relative to oxygen atoms and therefore yield more energy compared to carbohydrates; this is the result of fats being reduced more than carbohydrates. As fats have a lower proportion of oxygen compared to carbohydrates more of the oxygen in respiration of fats comes from the atmosphere; equally in the oxidation of carbohydrates a greater proportion of oxygen is present in the molecule itself. Fat resultantly forms a concentrated, insoluble energy store; lipids are non-polar causing them t o be insoluble in water. Fat is significant for animals that endure long unfavourable seasons. This is due to fat conducting heat very slowly; consequently having a layer under the skin insulates metabolic heat in. Oils are a major energy store in seeds and industrially are extracted for human use. The bonds between the fatty acid chains are what make them different. The three fatty acids could be identical or not, a fatty acid may have single bonds making it a saturated lipid. These are more commonly known as fats and are solid at room temperature. Lipids can also occur as waxes or steroids depending on the structure of the lipid as well as the amount of fatty acids and glycerolââ¬â¢s.Show MoreRelatedDifferent Theories That State The Humans Are Biological And Symbolic Species1555 Words à |à 7 Pages. There are many theories that state the humans are biological and symbolic species. These assumptions came about the onset of evolution. Due to evolution, various events in the human history have transpired, as far as, alterations in our biological construction and functions of the living organisms. As humans beings, we are able to adapt and change in our society; for instance change our religion, politics etc and this itself is a form of evolution. Therefore, in the reading by Mihaly CsikszentmihalyRead MoreThe Most Influential Text is the Bible1558 Words à |à 6 Pages The Bible is widely regarded as perhaps the most influential text in the record of human history. Both Judaism and Christianity hold the Bible in high sp iritual regard, due to its function as the basis for these two respective religions. The Bible serves as a single divine anthology, comprised of a series of books that have been meticulously composed by hundreds of authors over hundreds of years (Armstrong, 2007). Over the course of human history, the stories, lessons, and parables found withinRead MoreThe Effect Of Fiber On Blood Pressure Readings1961 Words à |à 8 Pagessystolic (95% CI, ââ¬â2.2 to 1.0) after magnesium supplementation (Streppel, 2005). Western countries meet less than the recommended amount of fiber (Streppel, 2005). Further research needs to explore exact biological mechanisms and evaluate different foods that provide more of a clinical significance, and positive impacts on our cardiovascular system. The study on morbidly obese patients looked at a correlation of low caloric intake and aerobic physical activity (Nordstrand et al., 2012). Aerobic exercisesRead MoreBiological and Evolutionary Reasons of Mate Choice5556 Words à |à 23 PagesRules of attraction: Biological and evolutionary reasons of mate choice ABSTRACT Within the past decade we have witnessed a series of new developments and an enormously growing interest in the understanding of human behaviour, especially when it comes to the basic principles of human mate choice. Mate preference is something which is often considered a very individual choice and appears to be influenced by cultural and economic norms. However, on the basis of numerous research works, it isRead MoreWhat Protective Effect Of Ãâ -lipoic Acid ( La ) Against Oxidative Stress And Apoptosis1696 Words à |à 7 Pagespainful, inflammatory and debilitating adverse effect of cancer therapy. It occurs in about 50% of cancer patients under standard doses of chemotherapy and in almost 80 % of patients who received high doses of anticancer treatment (1). The mucosa of the lips, tongue, mouth, floor of mouth and soft palate are easily affected by antineoplastic agents such as Methotrexate (MTX) than keratinized hard tissues (2). It is generally accepted that MTX can induce o ral mucositis via its direct inhibitory effectsRead MoreThe Extensive Functions Of The Various Anatomical Structures1884 Words à |à 8 PagesThe extensive functions of the various anatomical structures of the brain are constantly being studied due to the complexity of this organ. Often times its many roles are taken for granted including speech. Speech involves a complex planning process as well as the ability to execute it properly by coordinating and managing the movements of the mouth and tongue. When specific brain injuries occur this function is compromised in what is known as apraxia. This is a speech disorder where a personRead MoreSports and Fitness Center3804 Words à |à 16 Pageslower-extremity disability, use of a recumbent bicycle in place of a stand-up bicycle for a person with poor upper-body control) and the intensity, frequency, and duration of the activities. With some individuals who are lacking in balance and pulmonary function, additional exercises may hav e to be added to the exercise prescription. This study will promote sports and fitness facility for people with disabilities to reduce secondary conditions (eg, obesity, hypertension, pressure sores), to maintain functionalRead MoreSports and Fitness Center3819 Words à |à 16 Pageslower-extremity disability, use of a recumbent bicycle in place of a stand-up bicycle for a person with poor upper-body control) and the intensity, frequency, and duration of the activities. With some individuals who are lacking in balance and pulmonary function, additional exercises may have to be added to the exercise prescription. This study will promote sports and fitness facility for people with disabilities to reduce secondary conditions (eg, obesity, hypertension, pressure sores), to maintainRead MoreBlack swan: Madness of swan queen:2327 Words à |à 9 Pagesgive her a second chance. It is not surprising that Nina didnââ¬â¢t get the part, but the story does not just end up here, when the fragile, gentle side of Nina accepts this news, Thomas kisses Nina against her will and Nina reacts hostilely by biting his lip. It is this change character convinces Thomas to cast her as the Swan Queen. This first unseen side of Nina paves the transformation happening in the later stage. During rehearsal, Nina has difficulty grasp the essence of black swan, and the over demandingRead More Protecting the Great Barrier Reef Dugong Essay3750 Words à |à 15 Pagesforward on the body, and a broad, flattened tail. The ochre brown skin of a dugong appears smooth, but a close view reveals a rough surface covered in pits with short, thick hairs. Dugongs have two nostrils near the top of their heads on a fleshy lip, which can curl up to make breathing easier on the surface (Reynolds et al. 1991). The name sea cow refers to the fact that dugongs graze on seagrasses that form meadows in coastal waters. As dugongs feed, whole plants are uprooted and a telltale
Monday, December 9, 2019
Timeless Relations free essay sample
Timeless Relations A ray of light shone through the slit of my eyelids causing a slight pain. As I opened my eyes and my pupils struggled to adjust to the light, a Blue Angel ripped through the sky above me with incomprehensible speed. I watched my mother and father conversing on the aft of the boat while my sisters, giggling together, dangled their legs over the bow. Countless boats, filled with families and friends enjoying each otherââ¬â¢s company, anchored in Lake Erie around us. Another Angel soared past, causing a belated but nevertheless deafening sound. I thought about how much the world has changed, how quickly it moves, and how little we, as humans, enjoy the one thing time cannot alter: relationships. Pilots in their jets flew by at high-speeds with instantaneous altitude changes and swift turns. They traveled fast, faster than any human being or aircraft ever manufactured before. We will write a custom essay sample on Timeless Relations or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The other spectators and I stared on. At that moment, our lives seemed comparatively uneventful and slow. These people of practical affairs, casually, joyfully, and whole-heartedly listened to each other as the airborne acrobats performed above. How simple these times seemed compared to the trials, training, and skills required of the men hundreds of feet above traveling at record breaking speeds. As a passing Blue Angel reached supersonic speed, my life seemed to slow down. I realized the beauty of time, especially time spent with others. Just as the Blue Angels speed by, so do our daily lives. Technology stresses speed and instant gratification. Cell phones have taken once heartfelt, genuine goodbyes and turned them into triple character text messages, such as ââ¬Å"cya!â⬠People have personal connections through cyberspace. They no longer have conversations, but rather exchange voicemail transactions. Companies advertise faster service, next day installation, on demand vide os, and high-speed internet on the go. While lying on the boat rocking us back and forth, I marveled over society today. What happened to friendly consumer service, quality installation, and a genuine desire to make others happy? Everything now originates from convenience rather than from devoting our priceless time to others and to building lifelong relationships. Lifestyles change with time. Technology, language, music, and fashion, they all change. But one thing that never will change is people and their relationships. Parents love their children the same in contemporary times as they did thousands of years ago. Likewise, children now and children of medieval periods love their parents equally. A common connection among our worldââ¬â¢s cultures is interpersonal connections. One era is connected to another by relationships. Romance novels, such as Gone with the Wind, are timeless stories with which all people can relate. Friends and family have played significant roles in our lives for centuries; however we do not appreciate them enough. Why not treasure the one thing time has not changed? Humans will always need love, affection, and understanding. A thunderous sound roared around me. The Blue Angels passed overhead, this time together. I sat up and rested my back against a life-line on the side of the boat. The six Solos assembled into their standard diamond formation to form a family of aircraft. They flew as one unit performing barrel rolls and flips. I felt sorrow as the air show approached its end, yet renewed by my fresh outlook on the world. I stood up to join my sisters at the bow and sat beside them. They turned, their eyes met mine and I smiled. Eager not to be excluded a moment more from my family, I added a comment and contributed to the laughter filling the front of the boat. I kicked my feet back and forth as my sisters did. Our six legs moved forward and back in unison as the six Angels flew past together one last time.
Sunday, December 1, 2019
The Glass Menagerie - Escape Theme Essays - English-language Films
The Glass Menagerie - Escape Theme "The Glass Menagerie" is set in the apartment of the Wingfield family. By description, it is a cramped, dinghy place, not unlike a jail cell. It is one of many such apartments in the neighborhood. Of the Wingfield family members, none of them want to live there. Poverty is what traps them in their humble abode. The escape from this lifestyle, this apartment and these relationships is a significant theme throughout the play. These escapes may be related to the fire escape, the dance hall, the absent Mr. Wingfield and Tom's inevitable departure. The play opens with Tom addressing the audience from the fire escape. This entrance into the apartment provides a different purpose for each of the characters. Overall, it is a symbol of the passage from freedom to being trapped in a life of desperation. The fire escape allows Tom the opportunity to get out of the apartment and away from his nagging mother. Amanda sees the fire escape as an opportunity for gentleman callers to enter their lives. Laura's view is different from her mother and her brother. Her escape seems to be hiding inside the apartment, not out. The fire escape separates reality and the unknown. Across the street from the Wingfield apartment is the Paradise Dance Hall. Just the name of the place is a total anomaly in the story. Life with the Wingfields is as far from paradise as it could possibly be. Laura appears to find solace in playing the same records over and over again, day after day. Perhaps the music floating up to the apartment from the dance hall is supposed to be her escape which she just can't take. The music from the dance hall often provides the background music for certain scenes, The Glass Menagerie playing quite frequently. With war ever-present in the background, the dance hall is the last chance for paradise. Mr. Wingfield, the absent father of Tom and Laura and husband to the shrewish Amanda, is referred to often throughout the story. He is the ultimate symbol of escape. This is because he has managed to remove himself from the desperate situation that the rest of his family are still living in. His picture is featured prominently on the wall as a constant reminder of better times and days gone by. Amanda always makes disparaging remarks about her missing husband, yet lets his picture remain. Tom always makes jokes about his dad, and how he "fell in love with long distances." This is his attempt to ease the pain of abandonment by turning it into something humorous. It is inevitable that the thing which Tom resents most in his father is exactly what Tom himself will carry out in the end...escape! Through his father, Tom has seen that escape is possible, and though he is hesitant to leave his sister and even his mother behind, he is being driven to it. Tom escapes reality in many different ways. The first and most obvious is the fire escape that leads him away from his desolate home. Another would be the movies that Amanda is always nagging him about. She thinks he spends too much time watching movies and that he should work harder and find a suitable companion for Laura. The more Amanda nags, the more Tom needs his movie escapes. They take him to another world for a while, where mothers and sisters and runaway fathers do not exist. As the strain gets worse, the movie watching becomes more frequent, as does Tom's drinking. It is getting harder and harder for Tom to avoid real life. The time for a real departure is fast approaching. Amanda eventually pushes him over the edge, almost forcing him out, but not without laying overpowering guild trips on him. Tom leaves, but his going away is not the escape that he craved for so long. The guilt of abandoning Laura is overwhelming. He cannot seem to get over it. Everything he sees is a reminder of her. Tom is now truly following in the footsteps of his father. Too late, he is realizing that leaving is not an escape at all, but a path of even more powerful desperation.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Platos Meno Plot, Analysis, and Commentary on virtue
Plato's Meno Plot, Analysis, and Commentary on virtue Although fairly short, Platos dialog Meno is generally regarded as one of his most important and influential works. In a few pages, it ranges over several fundamental philosophical questions, such as: What is virtue?Can it be taught or is it innate?Do we know some things a priori (independent of experience)?What is the difference between really knowing something and merely holding a correct belief about it? The dialog also has some dramatic significance. We see Socrates reduce Meno, who begins by confidently assuming that he knows what virtue is, to a state of confusionââ¬âan unpleasant experience presumably common among those who engaged Socrates in debate. We also see Anytus, who will one day be one of the prosecutors responsible for Socrates trial and execution, warn Socrates that he should be careful what he says, especially about his fellow Athenians. Theà Menoà can be divided into four main parts: The unsuccessful search for a definition of virtueSocrates proof that some of our knowledge is innateA discussion of whether virtue can be taughtA discussion of why there are no teachers of virtue Part One: The Search for a Definition of Virtue The dialog opens with Meno asking Socrates a seemingly straightforward question: Can virtue be taught? Socrates, typically for him, says he doesnt know since he doesnt know what virtue is, and he hasnt met anyone who does. Meno is astonished at this reply and accepts Socrates invitation to define the term. The Greek word usually translated as virtue is arete, although it might also be translated as excellence.à The concept is closely linked to the idea of something fulfilling its purpose or function. Thus, the arete of a sword would be those qualities that make it a good weapon, for instance: sharpness, strength, balance. The arete of a horse would be qualities such as speed, stamina, and obedience. Menos first definition: Virtue is relative to the sort of person in question. For example, the virtue of a woman is to be good at managing a household and to be submissive to her husband. The virtue of a soldier is to be skilled at fighting and brave in battle. Socrates response: Given the meaning of arete,à Menos answer is quite understandable. But Socrates rejects it. He argues that when Meno points to several things as instances of virtue, there must be something they all have in common, which is why they are all called virtues. A good definition of a concept should identify this common core or essence. Menos second definition: Virtue is the ability to rule men. This may strike a modern reader as rather odd, but the thinking behind it is probably something like this: Virtue is what makes possible the fulfillment of ones purpose. For men, the ultimate purpose is happiness; happiness consists of lots of pleasure; pleasure is the satisfaction of desire; and the key to satisfying ones desires is to wield power- in other words, to rule over men. This sort of reasoning would have been associated with the sophists. Socrates response: The ability to rule men is only good if the rule is just.à But justice is only one of the virtues.à So Meno has defined the general concept of virtue by identifying it with one specific kind of virtue. Socrates then clarifies what he wants with an analogy.à The concept of shape cant be defined by describing squares, circles or triangles.à Shape is what all these figures share.à A general definition would be something like this: shape is that which is bounded by color. Menos third definition: Virtue is the desire to have and the ability to acquire fine and beautiful things. Socrates response: Everyone desires what they think is good (an idea one encounters in many of Platos dialogues). So if people differ in virtue, as they do, this must be because they differ in their ability to acquire the fine things they consider good.à But acquiring these thingsââ¬âsatisfying ones desiresââ¬âcan be done in a good way or a bad way.à Meno concedes that this ability is only a virtue if it is exercised in a good wayââ¬âin other words, virtuously.à So once again, Meno has built into hisà definition the very notion hes trying to define. Part Two: Is Some of Our Knowledge Innate? Meno declares himself utterly confused:à O Socrates, I used to be told, before I knew you, thatà you were always doubting yourself and making others doubt; and now youà are casting your spells over me, and I am simply getting bewitched andà enchanted, and am at my wits end. And if I may venture to make a jestà upon you, you seem to me both in your appearance and in your power overà others to be very like the flat torpedo fish, who torpifies those who comeà near him and touch him, as you have now torpified me, I think. For my soulà and my tongue are really torpid, and I do not know how to answer you. Menos description of how he feels gives us some idea of the effect Socrates must have had on many people. The Greek term for the situation he finds himself in is aporia, which is often translated as impasse but also denotes perplexity.à He then presents Socrates with a famous paradox. Menos paradox: Either we know something or we dont.à If we know it, we dont need to inquire any further.à But if we dont know it if we cant inquire since we dont know what were looking for and wont recognize it if we found it. Socrates dismisses Menos paradox as a debaters trick,à but he nevertheless responds to the challenge, and his response is both surprising and sophisticated.à He appeals to the testimony of priests and priestesses who say that the soul is immortal, entering and leaving one body after another, that in the process it acquires a comprehensive knowledge of all there is to know, and that what we call learning is actually just a process of recollecting what we already know. This is a doctrine that Plato may have learned from the Pythagoreans. The slave boy demonstration:à Meno asks Socrates if he can prove that all learning is recollection. Socrates responds by calling over a slave boy, who he establishes has had no mathematical training, and setting him a geometry problem.à Drawing a square in the dirt, Socrates asks the boy how to double the area of the square.à The boys first guess is that one should double the length of the squares sides.à Socrates shows that this is incorrect.à The slave boy tries again, this time suggesting that one increase the length of the sides by 50 percent.à He is shown that this is also wrong.à The boy then declares himself to be at a loss.à Socrates points out that the boys situation now is similar to that of Meno.à They both believed they knew something; they now realize their belief was mistaken; but this new awareness of their own ignorance, this feeling of perplexity, is, in fact, an improvement. Socrates then proceeds to guide the boy to the right answer: you double the area of a square by using its diagonal as the basis for the larger square. He claims at the end to have demonstrated that the boy in some sense already had this knowledge within himself: all that was needed was someone to stir it up and make recollection easier.à Many readers will be skeptical of this claim. Socrates certainly seems to ask the boy leading questions. But many philosophers have found something impressive about the passage.à Most dont consider it a proof of the theory of reincarnation, and even Socrates concedes that this theory is highly speculative. But many have seen it as a convincing proof that human beings have some a priori knowledge (information that is self-evident).à The boy may not be able to reach the correct conclusion unaided, but he is able to recognize the truth of the conclusion and the validity of the steps that lead him to it.à He isnt simply repeating something he has been taught. Socrates doesnt insist that his claims about reincarnation are certain.à But he does argue that the demonstration supports his fervent belief that we will live better lives if we believe that knowledge is worth pursuing as opposed to lazily assuming that there is no point in trying. Part Three: Can Virtue Be Taught? Meno asks Socrates to return to their original question: Can virtue be taught?à Socrates reluctantly agrees and constructs the following argument: Virtue is something beneficial; its aà good thing to haveAll good things are only good if they are accompanied by knowledge or wisdom (for example, courage is good in a wise person, but in a fool, it is mere recklessness)Therefore virtue is a kind of knowledgeTherefore virtue can be taught The argument is not especially convincing.à The fact that all good things, in order to be beneficial, must be accompanied by wisdom doesnt really show that this wisdom is the same thing as virtue.à The idea that virtue is a kind of knowledge, however, does seem to have been a central tenet of Platos moral philosophy.à Ultimately, the knowledge in question is the knowledge of what truly is in ones best long-term interests. Anyone who knows this will be virtuous since they know that living a good life is the surest path to happiness.à And anyone who fails to be virtuous reveals that they dont understand this.à Hence the flip side of virtue is knowledge is all wrongdoing is ignorance, a claim that Plato spells out and seeks to justify in dialoguesà such as the Gorgias.à Part Four: Why Are There No Teachers of Virtue? Meno is content to conclude that virtue can be taught, but Socrates, to Menos surprise, turns on his own argument and starts criticizing it.à His objection is simple.à If virtue could be taught there would be teachers of virtue.à But there arent any.à Therefore it cant be teachable after all. There follows an exchange with Anytus, who has joined the conversation, that is charged with dramatic irony.à In response to Socrates wondering, rather tongue-in-cheek query whether sophists might not be teachers of virtue, Anytus contemptuously dismisses the sophists as people who, far from teaching virtue, corrupt those who listen to them. Asked who could teach virtue, Anytus suggests that any Athenian gentleman should be able to do this by passing on what they have learned from preceding generations.à Socrates is unconvinced.à He points out that great Athenians like Pericles, Themistocles, and Aristides were all good men, and they managed to teach their sons specific skills like horse riding, or music.à But they didnt teach their sons to be as virtuous as themselves, which they surely would have done if they had been able to. Anytus leaves, ominously warning Socrates that he is too ready to speak ill of people and that he should take care in expressing such views.à After he leaves Socrates confronts the paradox that he now finds himself with: on the one hand, virtue is teachable since it is a kind of knowledge; on the other hand, there are no teachers of virtue. He resolves it by distinguishing between real knowledge and correct opinion.à Most of the time in practical life, we get by perfectly well if we simply have correct beliefs about something. For example,à if you want to grow tomatoes and you correctly believe that planting them on the south side of the garden will produce a good crop, then if you do this youll get the outcome youre aiming at. But to really be able to teach someone how to grow tomatoes, you need more than a bit of practical experience and a few rules of thumb; you need a genuine knowledge of horticulture, which includes an understanding of soils, climate, hydration, germination, and so on. The good men who fail to teach their sons virtue are like practical gardeners without theoretical knowledge. They do well enough themselves most of the time, but their opinions are not always reliable, and they arent equipped to teach others. How do these good men acquire virtue?à Socrates suggests it is a gift from the gods, similar to the gift of poetic inspiration enjoyed by those who are able to write poetry but are unable to explain how they do it. The Significance of theà Meno Theà Menoà offers a fine illustration of Socrates argumentative methods and his search for definitions of moral concepts.à Like many of Platos early dialogues, it ends rather inconclusively.à Virtue hasnt been defined.à It has been identified with a kind of knowledge or wisdom, but exactly what this knowledge consists in hasnt been specified.à It seems it can be taught, at least in principle, but there are no teachers of virtue since no one has an adequate theoretical understanding of its essential nature.à Socrates implicitly includes himself among those who cannot teach virtue since he candidly admits at the outset that he doesnt know how to define it.à Framed by all this uncertainty, however, is the episode with the slave boy where Socrates asserts the doctrine of reincarnation and demonstrates the existence of innate knowledge.à Here he seems more confident about the truth of his claims.à It is likely that these ideas about reincarnation and inborn knowledge represent the views of Plato rather than Socrates.à They figure again in other dialogues, notably the Phaedo.à This passage is one of the most celebrated in the history of philosophy and is the starting point for many subsequent debates about the nature and the possibility of a priori knowledge. An Ominous Subtext While the content of Meno is a classic in its form and metaphysical function, it also has an underlying and ominous subtext. Plato wrote Meno about 385 BCE, placing the events about 402 BCE, when Socrates was 67 years old, and about three years before he was executed for corrupting Athenian youth. Meno was a young man who was described in historical records as treacherous, eager for wealth and supremely self-confident. In the dialogue, Meno believes he is virtuous because he has given several discourses about it in the past: and Socrates proves that he cant know whether hes virtuous or not because he doesnt know what virtue is. Anytus was the main prosecutor in the court case that led to Socratess death. In Meno, Anytus threatens Socrates, I think that you are too ready to speak evil of men: and, if you will take my advice, I would recommend you to be careful. Anytus is missing the point, but nevertheless, Socrates is, in fact, shoving this particular Athenian youth off his self-confident pedestal, which would definitely be construed in Anytuss eyes as a corrupting influence. Resources and Further Reading Bluck, R. S. Platos Meno. Phronesis 6.2 (1961): 94ââ¬â101. Print.Hoerber, Robert G. Platos Meno. Phronesis 5.2 (1960): 78ââ¬â102. Print.Klein, Jacob. A Commentary on Platos Meno. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1989.Kraut, Richard. Plato. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University 2017. Web.Plato. Meno. Translated by Benjamin Jowett, Dover, 2019.Silverman, Allan. Platos Middle Period Metaphysics and Epistemology. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University 2014. Web.Tejera, V. History and Rhetoric in Platos Meno, or on the Difficulties of Communicating Human Excellence. Philosophy Rhetoric 11.1 (1978): 19ââ¬â42. Print.
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