Philosophy Reading Group

Hi, join us at our venue in Hammersmith, as we discuss this weeks philosophy classic: The Meno, exploring ideas such as innate knowledge, virtue and more.

We have a nice venue, a conference room @ the modern office building, "Worklife," - in Hammersmith :) (See picture below.)

The question "what is virtue," relates to a number of modern challenges we face when we consider the moral standards we should live by in the 21st century.

The Meno helps us gain a philosophic foothold into the question of morality, providing insights - and a framework that help the reader confront difficulties that arise when our moral & ethical standards are put to the test.

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This week we go deeper into the Meno, - to a well known section of the dialogue, known as: "Meno's Paradox!"

Meno's Paradox challenges the famed Socratic method of "dialectic," pointing out some of the challenges faced when defining virtue using "essential characteristics," - common to all instances of virtue.

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--- Why Socrates searches for "definitions" in Platonic Dialogues? ---

We discover over the course of the dialogues, that finding the definition of a term, - is one and the same process, - as finding the characteristics - that taken collectively, - form the "concepts" we rely on in the everyday use of language.

It's not obvious at first glance, why this is so valuable.

The words we use in language to communicate, - are concepts. -

The result, - is that the most fundamental parts of our mind: - our thinking ability, - the ability to communicate - & the ability to understand meaning in language, - also depend on - concepts-!

To have a meaningful debate about anything, therefore - requires an understanding of the definition under the microscope!

Consequently, the "Socratic method," (known as "Dialectic,") is as valuable in the modern world today, - as it was in 5th century (BC) Athens!

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----- What are concepts? -----

Think of the table in your living room, (It has a particular colour, a particular shape and a particular size!)

Now think about the concept "table," which is the word used to describe - "all tables." -

It does not have an exact size, an exact shape, an exact colour.

The "general" sense of a table - is "the concept."

It exists in the mind.

The specific table we see in a classroom, or a living room, exists in the world outside us!

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----- Platonic Dialogues -----

Socrates, in every Platonic dialogue, seeks out definitions - of given subjects in question, (- like "virtue," "courage" or "beauty!") and builds a philosophy around the "definition." ( - or concept!)

The most important reason to do this - is to find a "moral philosophy" to live by, in the hope of creating a peaceful & harmonious society that we might happily live in! -

Something we seem to need as much now, -as ever.

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------ Ethics as a sub-branch of Philosophy ------

Philosophy & Politics courses at universities today, share in the search: - seeking to provide students with theories that identify the "moral standards" we should live by -through the study of the sub-branch of philosophy: - Ethics !

The Socratic Dialogues, written by Plato, are traditionally the go-to starting point to gain insight and understanding into the subject of Ethics.

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In this group we read through key passages, stopping to make sense of the dialogue as we journey through, uncovering the nuances, & discussing the key points of contention, in this classic of Western literature.

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