Plato’s Theory of Recollection

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In this paper, I will investigate the basic characteristics and properties of Plato’s “recollection” in Meno. In my opinion, Plato uses “recollection” to refute this argument, “whether people know or do not know, discovering is unnecessary.” He believes there is a state between “do not know” and “know”, he calls it “forget”. Therefore, when people are learning or discovering, they are just recollecting things they already forget.
In general, when people are learning, they achieve a state of understanding by learning something they consider they do not know. However, this common-sense contains a very irrational factor, that is, if a person have no idea about something exists, then for this person, that kind of things does not exist, hence the person will not emerges a desire to acquire that kind of things, then this person cannot behave like discovering or learning. If a person emerges a desire for something, that person must already know it sometime in the past in some way. Only in this way, it will make sense.
However, when people are learning, in common-sense is to learn, to discover things that they do not know, in other words, because they do not know, they precisely need to learn. But how to learn, to discover something people do not know? People are learning or discovering, but they do not know what they are learning or discovering, this is impossible. And then again, if people already know what they are discovering or learning, there is no need for them to learn or discover. In this way, people either know or do not know what they are learning or discovering, learning and discovering are impossible or unnecessary. The essential start point that Plato proposes “recollection” in Meno is to refute this argument about learning ...

... middle of paper ...

..., “right opinions” of everything is inherent. Even the slave who has not received any education after birth can have “right opinion”, then the others can also have it. Furthermore, “right opinion” is not only inherent, but also no matter who is able to recollect. In order to acquire this kind of “right opinion” again by themselves, sometimes depending on the different people or things, they will need outside help. However, no matter what kind of help used, “recollection” is always recollecting themselves, the others cannot substitute for their own recollection. These are the basic characteristics and properties of “recollection” in Meno.

Works Cited

Plato. "Meno." Grube., G.M.A. Five Dialogues. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., 2002. 58-92.
Plato. "Phaedo." Grube., G.M.A. Five Dialogues. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., 2002. 93-154.

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