Single Idea 11259

[catalogued under 5. Theory of Logic / L. Paradox / 2. Aporiai]

Full Idea

How will you aim to search for something you do not know at all? If you should meet with it, how will you know that this is the thing that you did not know?

Gist of Idea

How can you seek knowledge of something if you don't know it?

Source

Plato (Meno [c.376 BCE], 80d05)

Book Reference

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


A Reaction

Vasilis Politis cites this as a nice example of the 'aporiai' (puzzles) which Aristotle said were the foundation of enquiry. Nowadays the problem is called the 'paradox of enquiry'.