Group Work for Plato's Meno

Break up into small groups. Then discuss the following. Delegate one or more members of your group to prepare an oral or written summary of your group's discussion. If you were not present in class for this exercise, you may complete it (in less than 1 page) as a typed assignment.

1. Meno asks some questions at the beginning of the dialogue.  List one or two answers to those questions that members of your group have encountered outside the dialogue.

2. Name 3 excellent people.  Your group does not have to be in unanimous agreement. What is it that makes them excellent?

3. Beginning with a square with an area of one square meter, show how to use the method of the Meno to construct from it a square of 2 square meters.

M. Kagan, Le Moyne College
Revised February, 2016; minor edits September, 2018; revised 2020.