Plato's Theory of Knowledge

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“If the truth of all things always existed in the soul, then the soul is immortal” (The Philosophical Journey 89). This states that since the soul has all knowledge integrated, one recollects this knowledge through situations in an individual’s life and use one’s reasoning. With the dialogues of the Meno and Phaedo, Plato discusses the ideas of recollection and immortality of the soul in general. As well, the Republic, through the three different situations shown, Plato shows the ideas of the forms and what is real and what is not.

In the dialogue of Meno, Socrates explains the idea of recollection with the question and answer period between himself and the boy. Meno asks Socrates, “What do you mean by saying that we do not learn, and that what we call learning is only a process of recollection” (The Philosophical Journey 86). He questions on how one can have knowledge without learning about said knowledge first. Socrates then, through a series of questions and answers with the boy, helps him discover the knowledge that has been hidden inside him all along. This is explained where Socrates states,

He did not know at first, and he does not know now, what is the side of a figure of

eight feet: but then he thought that he knew, and answered confidently as if he knew,

and had no difficulty; now he has a difficulty, and neither he knows nor fancies that

he knows (The Philosophical Journey 88).

Basically, through this event, Socrates has assisted the boy in discovering the truth through only one method of recollecting stored knowledge. Even though the boy may seem confused by the questions, it is only because he has not realized that he had this knowledge and has been obtained.

As well, this process of recollection can be ta...

... middle of paper ...

...of the Good, which is only seen through effort and understanding. This is something I also stand by because if you do not try and understand a particular belief or question it, then you cannot have knowledge for or against it.

In general, Plato’s theory discusses how recollection, immortality of the soul, and the Forms are essential to understand and reason knowledge. The reader believes that his theory has a strong foundation, where one recollects knowledge and if that is the case, then said knowledge is eternal. As well, the reader also believes with Plato that knowledge can only be obtained through understanding and reasoning and using the forms to see the knowledge that we have. Intelligence is within all; it just has to be discovered.

Work Cited

Lawhead, William. The Philosophical Journey: An Interactive Approach Fifth (5th) Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2010

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