Soc. But if the good are not by nature good, are they made good by instruction ?
Men. There appears to be no other alternative, Socrates. On the supposition that virtue is knowledge, there can be no doubt that virtue is taught.
Soc. Yes, indeed ; but what if the supposition is erroneous ?
Men. I certainly thought just now that we were right.
Soc. Yes, Meno ; but a principle which has any soundness should stand firm not only just now, but always.
Men. Well ; and why are you so slow of heart to believe that knowledge is virtue ?
Soc. I will try and tell you why, Meno. I do not retract the assertion that if virtue is knowledge it may be taught ; but I fear that I have some reason in doubting whether virtue is knowledge : for consider now. and say whether virtue, and not only virtue but anything that is taught, must not have teachers and disciples ?
Men. Surely.
Soc. And conversely, may not the art of which neither teachers nor disciples exist be assumed to be incapable of being taught ?
Men. True ; but do you think that there are no teachers of virtue ?
Soc. I have certainly often enquired whether there were any, and taken great pains to find them, and have never succeeded ; and many have assisted me in the search, and they were the persons whom I thought the most likely to know. Here at the moment when he is wanted we fortunately have sitting by us Anytus, the very person of whom we should make enquiry ; to him then let us repair. In the first Place, he is the son of a wealthy and wise father, Anthemion, who acquired his wealth, not by accident or gift, like Ismenias the Theban (who has recently made himself as rich as Polycrates), but by his own skill and industry, and who is a well-conditioned, modest man, not insolent, or over-bearing, or annoying ; moreover, this son of his has received a good education, as the Athenian people certainly appear to think, for they choose him to fill the highest offices. And these are the sort of men from whom you are likely to learn whether there are any teachers of virtue, and who they are.