Menoista

Menoista is a rare and informal term that has appeared in occasional scholarly and non-scholarly writings to describe adherents of the ideas associated with Meno, a figure in Plato’s dialogue titled Meno. It is not a recognized historical school or sect, and the label is not widely attested in classical sources.

Etymology and usage notes

The word combines the name Meno with the suffix -ista, a form used in various languages to denote followers or advocates. Because it is not standard within classical scholarship, the exact meaning of “Menoista” can vary by author. In some discussions it is used to refer to readers or interpreters who emphasize the epistemological themes in Meno—such as the nature of knowledge, the problem of teaching virtue, and the idea that knowledge may be a form of recollection—rather than to describe a formal movement.

Context and interpretation

When used, the term generally signals a focus on Meno’s paradox, the theory of recollection, and the dialogue’s broader implications for epistemology and pedagogy. It is typically contrasted with broader labels like Platonists, Socratics, or general Aristotelian or Platonic interpreters. Because the term is not standardized, its scope and implications depend on the author and the specific context.

Notable references

There are no widely recognized historical groups named Menoista. The term remains mostly in niche discussions or occasional contemporary writings. See also Meno (dialogue), Plato, epistemology, recollection, Socratic method.