Right opinion - Definition and Overview

Right Opinion is Plato's definition of virtue, and an interesting angle on the definition of knowledge. Plato posed the question in the Meno as to whether it was possible to have wisdom without possessing knowledge. Plato used as his example a man attempting to determine the road to Larissa. A man might give accurate directions to Larissa if had traveled to Larissa before and knew the way himself, or had seen a map that displayed the correct route. However, a man would also give correct directions if he merely had the right opinion, without any basis for possessing this opinion. As Plato points out, the difficulty with an unfounded opinion is that there is no reason for one to preserve, or indeed to acquire it in the first place. Plato reasoned that the only way for one to possess right opinion is for it to be given to one by the gods.