Socrates

Socrates is focused in the Protagoras and Meno dialogues on the issue of what is virtue. Socrates has a low opinion of the Sophists, though he also feels compelled to engage a leading Sophist, Protagoras, in dialogue. Socrates shows his toughness in this dialogue, which is conducted in front of some of the elite of Athenian society. He refuses to be overwhelmed by a long-winded speech by Protagoras, and insists on keeping the dialogue fair. When Protagoras drags out a poem by Simonides, Socrates is just as able to say absurd and self-serving things about the poem as Protagoras is, and Socrates wears Protagoras out. Likewise, in the Meno dialogue, Socrates shows his ability to go through a topic not only in a logical manner, but to attack it from another angle.

Since Socrates and Meno are making little progress on finding out if virtue can be taught...