What Is Meno's Theory Of Recollection

The argument that Meno implies is that the use of inquiry is impossible. As a counterclaim, Socrates proposes the “Theory of Recollection,” in which he states that learning is instead recollecting knowledge already within us and questions a slave boy to demonstrate his theory. Meno’s paradox begins with the premise of how a person cannot search for something that he does not know of. If something is unknown then how would one possibly know to find it? The territory of information that is unknown cannot be looked for, for there is no basis on where to look or discover. His second premise questions how one can even have the desire to look for something that is completely unrecognizable to them. A person is unable to search for something he has
His thesis presents the soul as immortal, and with it its knowledge ever existing and never destroyed. Once a human being meets their end and “dies,” their soul is born again in another but keeps intact all prior knowledge which has existed since the beginning of time. Therefore it is all knowing and ever lasting. The course of action of “learning” is actually the recalling of information already known and experienced. “The Theory of Recollection” is not only limited to knowledge, but also exists within morals and virtues. For a person to unlock this knowledge, they must provide the necessary effort and conduct a continuous search throughout their lives in discovering and recalling. With this we can conclude that a person unwilling to search or another residing in an environment that prevents the exposure of information, cannot fully be able to retrieve such knowledge. Socrates ends his explanation of the theory by stating his full trust and belief of the
Socrate’s purpose is to have the slave boy recollect his own personal knowledge through finding twice the area of a square. Geometry or any math of that matter has apparently never been exposed or taught to the slave boy, so when and if he finds the answer, Socrates will take this as proof that knowledge is inherent and can be reached by anyone through given effort. Socrates initially creates a visual for the boy of a square of four feet and continues to add three more in shape of another congruent square. He follows up with a line of questioning of geometrical truths, in which the slave boy agrees up until he admits that he does not understand. Socrates continues with his questions of truths, with the boy eventually answering the questions with numbers through conclusive reasoning. Socrates ends his questioning with the correct answer, stating that the solution is actually the boy’s opinion. He then turns to Menos who claims that Socrates is right, for the boy’s answers were all his own opinion and that he recollected the answer not by being taught but through questioning. He concludes that questioning in one’s self leads to the recollection of the soul’s knowledge. The use of the Socratic method was conducted through the introduction of hypotheses that would then be eliminated when