Why Socrates proposes “recollection” and how to prove it

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In this paper, I will investigate the reason Socrates proposes “recollection” and the way he proves it. My conclusion is the reason Socrates proposes “recollection” is trying to help Meno understand how to explain virtue, and shows Meno how to prove it. He asks one of Meno’s slave geometry questions to prove that our souls have all the knowledge we need to solve problems. Which means when we are answering questions, we are recollecting the knowledge inside our souls.
First, Socrates talks about some creeds he heard from different religions (Meno, 71). The meaning of the poem I believe is due to some mistakes we perpetrated, the punishment for us is to go through a series of reincarnation. In the meantime, if we behave very reverent, the Persephone will reward us. Prior to this, we have to spend nine years in the underworld, if we perform piously, she will send us to the sun after nine years, to become a monarch, an athlete or a saint, then have lifelong glories of hero. In other words, soul is immortal and reincarnation, therefore, we must live as piously as possible.
Later, Socrates says “Then if the truth about reality is always in our soul, the soul would be immortal so that you should always confidently try to seek out and recollect what you do not know at present—that is, what you do not recollect?” (Meno, 78) Socrates infers “we should piously live” from “soul is immortal”, but here, he infers “we should take the initiative to recall” form “soul is immortal”. Therefore, I assert recollection means to be pious. Through recollection, we can get rid of the pain of reincarnation and get reward from gods.
In conclusion, even piety and recollection are not identical, piety is a form of knowledge, and recollection is a stage of res...

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... himself. I believe Socrates wants us to concern the difference between the ideas which are listened, and the result of self-thinking. Meanwhile, this learning process of geometry resonates with the slave’s own experience, reminds him of something he already knows.
Socrates’s dialogue with the slave (Meno, 77-78) shows the derivation of proof. This dialogue consists two main views: 1 if the slave continues along this path of investigation, he will acquire knowledge; 2 in this practice, he will discover his own knowledge exits within him. After confirm the slave’s answers are from his own. I believe Socrates proves we can acquire knowledge and access to knowledge due to we potentially have it. Socrates want to explore how to solve problems through the theory of recollections, as he admits potential knowledge is that our investigation must proceed from this knowledge.

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