Single Idea 5985

[catalogued under 12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 3. Innate Knowledge / b. Recollection doctrine]

Full Idea

Seeking and learning are in fact nothing but recollection.

Gist of Idea

Seeking and learning are just recollection

Source

Plato (Meno [c.376 BCE], 81d)

Book Reference

Plato: 'Complete Works', ed/tr. Cooper,John M. [Hackett 1997], p.880


A Reaction

This is a prelude to the famous conversation with the slave boy about geometry. You don't have to follow Plato into the doctrine of reincarnation; this remark is a key slogan for all rationalists. As pupils in maths lessons, we pull knowledge from within.