ABSTRACT
Plato'smoralphilosophydevelopedoutof,andinresponseto,that ofSocrates.SocrateshadraisedthecentralissuesinGreekethics byhisinvestigationoftheconceptofvirtue;hehaddevelopedthe methodofelenchustoaidhiminhisinvestigations;andhehad formulatedhisownviewsaboutthequestionshisinvestigations raised.Socrateshadheldthatthegoodlifewasthelifeofvirtue, thatvirtuewasknowledgeofwhatwasgoodforthemoralagent, andthatwrongdoingwascausedbyignoranceoftheagent'sown good.Hehaddeniedthepossibilityofmoralweakness,asserting thatanyonewhoknewwhatwasgoodwouldsurelydoit.These SocraticviewswereparadoxicalbutPlatowasgreatlyinfluencedby them.HesawthatSocrates'moralphilosophywasanextensionof hischaracterand,asheadmiredSocrates'character,hewas attractedtohisphilosophy.
