Meno: Very well, Socrates. Please do not ever say that I did not try to warn you, especially after they have nailed you to a cross in a public place, where anyone and everyone could hear you say that the fault of thislay in my name. Socrates: Do not worry, friend Meno, for if I were not to show this simple feat of logic to you, I should just walk down the street and find someone else, though not someone whose company and conversation I should enjoy as much as yours.
Meno:Thank you, friend Socrates.
Socrates: Now, boy, do you remember me, and the squares with which we worked and played the other day?
Boy:Yes, sir, Socrates.
Socrates: Please, Meno, instruct the boy to merely call me by my name, as does everyone else. Calling me "sir" merely puts me off my mental stride, and, besides, it will create a greater distance between me and the boy.
Meno:You heard what Socrates, said, boy.Can you do it?
Meno: Yes, sir. (Turning to Socrates) You know I like you very much, and that I call you "sir" not only out of relation of our positions in society, but also because of my true respect and admiration, especially after the events of the other day.
Socrates: Yes, boy. And I will try to live up to your expectations. (Turning to Meno) Would you allow some reward for the boy, as well as that which is for myself, if he should prove to your satisfaction that the square root of two is irrational?
Meno:Certainly, Socrates.
Socrates: (taking the boy aside) What would you like the most in the whole world, boy?
Boy:You mean anything?
Socrates: Well, I can't guarantee to get it for you, but at least I can ask it, and it shouldn't hurt to ask; and besides, as you should know, it is very hard to expect someone to give you what you want, if you never let them know you want it.
Boy:Well, Socrates . . . you know what I would want. Socrates:Do I?
Boy:Better than I knew the square root of two the other day. Socrates:You want to be a free man, then, and a citizen.
Boy:(looking down)Yes.
Socrates: Don't look down, then, for that is an admirable desire for one to have, and speaks highly of him who has it. I will speak to Meno, while you hold your tongue.
Boy:Yes, Socrates.(bows to kiss his hand, Socrates turns)Socrates: Friend Meno, how hard do you think it will be for this boy to prove the irrationality of the square root of two?
Meno: You know that I think it is impossible, Socrates. Socrates: Well, how long did it take the Pythagoreans? Meno: I should think it took them years.
Socrates:And how many of them were there?
Meno: Quite a few, though not all worked equally, and some hardly at all, for they were most interested in triangles of the right and virtuous variety, and not in squares and their roots.
Socrates:Can you give me an estimate?
Meno:No, I can't say that I can.I am sorry, Socrates.
Socrates:No problem, would you accept five thinkers as an estimate. Meno:I think that should be fair.
Socrates: And shall we assume they worked for two years, that is the smallest number which retains the plural, and our assumption was that they worked for years.
Meno:Two years is indeed acceptable to me, Socrates.
Socrates: Very well then, Meno, it would appear that the Pythagoreans spent 10 total years of thinking time to solve the riddles of the square root of two.
Meno:I agree.
Socrates: And would you like to hire the Pythagoreans to run your household, Meno?
Meno: Surely I would, Socrates, if they were only for hire, but, as you well know, they are a secret lot, and hire to no one.
Socrates: Well, if I could get you one, perhaps one of the best of them, in fact the leader of the group that solved the square root of two, would you not hire him, and at high wages?
Meno:Certainly, Socrates.I'd be a fool not to.
Socrates:And you would put him in charge of your house. Meno:And all my lands, too, Socrates.
Socrates: Possibly. Then I would like to propose, that if this boy should solve the proof of the square root of two being irrational, in the next few hours of our discussion, that he be given wages equal to those due to your most highly placed servant for ten years of service, as he shall perform ten years service for you in the next few hours, should he succeed.
Meno:That sound quite fair, Socrates, I like your logic.
Socrates: (the boy tugs his tunic, to complain that he wants his freedom, not a mere bucket of gold) Hush, boy, did you not promise to hold your tongue?
Boy:Yes, Socrates, but . . . .
Socrates: (turning to Meno) And, of course, with the monetary rewards for such a position, go all the rest of it.
Meno:Of course, Socrates.I never thought to cheat you.
Socrates: I know that, friend Meno, but I merely ask for the boy's sake, who is not used to hearing about high finance and the powers and rank which accompany such things.
Meno: Of course, Socrates. Shall I tell the boy what he shall receive?
Socrates:You are very kind to do so, my friend Meno.
Meno: (turns to the boy) You are aware that a servant may not own the amount of gold I would have to give you, should you win the day?
Boy:Yes, sir.
Meno: Therefore, I would have to give to you the freedom to own the money, before I could give you the money, would I not?
Boy:Yes, sir.
Meno: And in giving you freedom, I would be remiss if I did not give you a job and a coming out party of equal position with your wealth, would I not?
Boy:I can't really say, sir, though I suppose so.
Meno: You suppose correctly. I will feed you for a week of partying, and dress you in the finest garments, while you are introduced to the finest ladies and gentlemen of Athens, from whom you are free to select for your interests as friends, business partners, social acquaintances, connections, and perhaps even a wife, should you find someone you like for that. Do you now understand that there is nothing I would leave out that you would have to ask for, or that if you did have to ask, I would give it immediately, and ask your forgiveness for my error?
Boy:It is hard to understand, but I take your word.
