[Side-note: Answer of Menon--plurality of virtues, one belonging to each different class and condition. Sokrates enquires for the property common to all of them.] Menon proceeds to answer that there are many virtues: the virtue of a man--competence to transact the business of the city, and in such business to benefit his friends and injure his enemies: the virtue of a woman--to administer the house well, preserving every thing within it and obeying her husband: the virtue of a child, of an old man, a slave, &c. There is in short a virtue--and its contrary, a vice--belonging to each of us in every work, profession, and age.[5] [Footnote 5: Plato, Menon, p. 72 A. [Greek: kath' e(ka/stên ga\r tô=n pra/xeôn kai\ tô=n ê(likô=n pro\s e(/kaston e)/rgon e(ka/stô| ê(mô=n ê( a)retê/ e)stin. ô(sau/tôs de\ kai\ ê( kaki/a.] Though Sokrates disapproves this method of answering--[Greek: to\ e)xarithmei=n ta\s a)reta/s] (to use the expression of Aristotle)--yet Aristotle seems to think it better than searching for one general definition. See Politica, i. 13, p. 1260, a. 15-30, where he has the Platonic Menon in his mind.] But (replies Sokrates) are they not all the same, _quatenus_ virtue? Health, _quatenus_ Health, is the same in a man or a woman: is not the case similar with virtue? _Menon._--Not exactly similar. _Sokr._--How so? Though there are many diverse virtues, have not all of them one and the same form in common, through the communion of which they _are_ virtues? In answer to my question, you ought to declare what this common form is. Thus, both the man who administers the city, and the woman who administers the house, must act both of them with justice and moderation. Through the same qualities, both the one and the other are good. There is thus some common constituent: tell me what it is, according to you and Gorgias? _Menon._--It is to be competent to exercise command over men.[6] _Sokr._--But that will not suit for the virtue of a child or a slave. Moreover, must we not superadd the condition, to command justly, and not unjustly? _Menon._--I think so: justice is virtue. _Sokr._--Is it virtue--or is it one particular variety of virtue?[7] _Menon._--How do you mean? _Sokr._--Just as if I were to say about roundness, that it is not figure, but a particular variety of figure: because there are other figures besides roundness. _Menon._--Very true: I say too, that there are other virtues besides justice--namely, courage, moderation, wisdom, magnanimity, and several others also. _Sokr._--We are thus still in the same predicament. In looking for one virtue, we have found many; but we cannot find that one form which runs through them all. _Menon._--I cannot at present tell what that one is.[8] [Footnote 6: Plato, Menon, p. 73 D.] [Footnote 7: Plato, Menon, p. 73 E. [Greek: Po/teron a)retê/, ô)= Me/nôn, ê)\ a)retê/ tis?]]