The Pythagorean theorem is one of the earliest theorems known to ancient civilization. The well-known theorem is named after the Greek mathematician and philosopher, Pythagoras. In the Wizard of Oz, after the Scarecrow gets a brain, he states the Pythagorean theorem. However, he mistakenly says it applies to an isosceles triangle when it applies to a right triangle. He not only says the wrong triangle, he also gets the equation wrong.…
Plato is basically saying that knowledge is a hard thing to be taught and it is very hard to…
In reading Plato’s Theaetetus, Socrates stresses throughout that he is like a midwife, meaning he helps his associates to gain knowledge through asking questions. He also claims, however, that he himself possesses no knowledge. As a result, he does not teach, but remains adamant in his claims that he is very important in the associates’ learning or relearning.…
In the Meno, Socrates tries to walk Meno through the discovery of if virtue can be taught. Along the way they come across the theory that if virtue can be taught then it is knowledge. If knowledge then it can be taught but the Geometric argument was brought up where a person can have the capacity to learn based on their previous life and their soul conjuring up prior knowledge to understand the topic. Socrates called upon a slave, a person who has no formal education and walked him through a geometry problem. This problem was meant to illustrate that a person’s knowledge is not based on what this person has learned in their lifetime but their capacity and ability to understand is based on what their soul has learned in previous lifetimes. Socrates uses this example show his thesis is true but what about different scenarios that aren’t math based and through different problems you can see that Socrates theory is half correct and that there are several implications that prove that souls don’t know it all.…
Pythagoras and his followers, the Pythagoreans, were profoundly fascinated with numbers. In this paper, I will show that the heart of Pythagoras’ philosophy centers on numbers. As true to the spirit of Pythagoras, I will demonstrate this in seven ways. One, the principle of reality is mathematics and its essence is numbers. Two, odd and even numbers signify the finite and infinite. Three, perfect numbers correspond with virtues. Four, the generation of numbers leads to an understanding of the One, the Divinity. Five, the tetractys is important for understanding reality. Six, the ratio of numbers in the tetractys governs musical harmony. Seven, the laws of harmony explain workings of the material world.…
The PBS video, A Class Divided, has brought to light a sensitive subject that has plagued societies for hundreds, even thousands of years. I have learned a lot about discrimination by watching this video. I was not aware that discrimination is a learned behavior. It seems that anytime there is a situation in which someone is viewed in a critical way, called out on those facts, and an opinion on those facts is expressed, it is a potential for discrimination. It only takes the…
So what does this tribute to self-knowledge really mean to anyone and more importantly how…
In Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” there are two types of knowledge that is to be understood; factually based knowledge that is told and is expected to be believed and accepted and knowledge that is learnt by experience and often has a personal meaning to the individual. By understanding these two types of knowledge we are able to better understand how they both contribute to a thriving society and help us grow as individuals.…
Socrates’ theory of recollection, also known as the Socratic Method, is based on the idea that our soul is immortal and has already experienced everything. Because of this we already know everything and the only thing left is to find a way to recollect the information. Since our souls have all the knowledge we need “there is no teaching, but only recollection” (Plato 41) and the only way Socrates can help someone learn anything is by making them go through this process of recollection. He does this by asking questions, providing comparisons or analogies, and by using examples. All of the above can be seen in Socrates’ conversation with Meno’s attendant. Socrates asks the attendant several questions about geometry and the servant answers them with confidence. He got some of them wrong so Socrates proceeds to ask him some more questions on the subject and the second time around he got them right. Proving that “by putting questions to him, his soul must have always possessed this knowledge…” (Plato 47) seeing as he got the questions right. This conversation between Socrates and Meno’s attendant is a clear example of the efficiency of the Socratic Method.…
A hero is defined as a person noted for special achievements in a field. Dr. Susan Calvin, the main character of the novel I, Robot, is made the hero because of her special achievements in the field of robotics. Dr. Calvin is a robopsychologist who uses many different methods of problems solving to solve the problems that other scientists and mathematicians were incapable of doing. Through these many adventures in the field of robotics, Dr. Susan Calvin displays her many character traits to the reader. Dr. Calvin has an excellent combination of many different attributes. In I, Robot, by Isaac Asimov, Dr. Susan Calvin, the main character, reveals much about herself to the reader, and makes the book what it is.…
In the Oration, Pico justified the importance of the human quest for knowledge. He states…
He prompts the slave boy to solve geometry problems with the use of reasoning despite the fact the young boy did not have any prior mathematical skill. The final alternative view of knowledge I am going to discuss is from a book titled “Pragmatism” by William James. In Pragmatism, author William James, states that there are multiple ways to obtain knowledge and the knowledge “grows in spots”. James’ view on knowledge is pluralistic, insinuating that there is more than one type of thing to know and that there are multiple ways to come about obtaining…
In the dialogue between Socrates and Euthyphro, Socrates demonstrated his being self-reflective and unyielding inquisition until he finds satisfaction on his opponents’ answers. He asked a series of questions about the meaning of being pious and impious, of love and be loved, and the state of becoming, and implication of action and passion. He praised Melitus, his accuser, for showing a good deal of character, for being a very wise and caring person, and starting his career the way every responsible citizen should - by taking care of the young and protecting them from their destroyers. If he will succeed, Melitus will be doing the same to the elderly and will make him a great benefactor of his country. For him to become such an extraordinary man, he surely made great advances to seek knowledge and wisdom. “ For a man is wise when he begins to impart his wisdom to others,” until then people become angry and jealous. Socrates believed that the first step to knowledge is recognition of one's ignorance – knowing you know nothing.…
Pythagoras was born in 570 BCE in Samon, Ionia, and died 500-490 BCE. He was a Greek mathematician and philosopher who is greatly known for his creation of the Pythagorean theorem. His principles influenced the work of Aristotle and Plato. Pythagoras migrated to…
He said that he did not teach, but rather served, like his mother, as a midwife to truth that is already in us! Making use of questions and answers to remind his students of knowledge is called maieutics (midwifery), dialectics, or the Socratic method.…