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Paradox Of Inquiry In Meno's Theory Of Recollection

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Paradox Of Inquiry In Meno's Theory Of Recollection
The paradox of inquiry refers to an argument that arises in Plato’s Meno and is called Meno's paradox. Meno asks Socrates if inquiry is possible. On one hand, if an individual already knows what he or she is looking for, then there is no need for inquiry. However, if an individual does not know what he or she is looking for, then inquiry cannot begin. Therefore, this paradox seems to show that inquiry is either impossible or unnecessary. To answer this problem, Socrates introduces his Theory of Recollection. Socrates’ Theory of Recollection, saves learning from Meno’s paradox. Socrates’ method also ensures that virtue can be taught which makes people better.
Socrates goes ahead to answer Meno’s argument by telling him that the priests and priestess and other divinely inspired poets say that the soul of a man is immortal. He uses the immortality to say that the soul has seen everything in this world and the other world and, therefore, it has learned everything that is. Therefore man should not be surprised if the soul recalls the knowledge of virtue or anything that the soul possessed. Socrates argues that, when a man …show more content…
Socrates asked the slave boy to solve a geometric problem that consist of several steps to reach the solution. To teach the boy and help him find the solution, Socrates asked several questions for each step. Finally, boy was able to solve the question. Here, Socrates concluded that since boy had no knowledge of mathematics, he was taught to solve the question using his previous memory. In same context, Socrates argued with Meno, that virtue can not be taught. If it was similar to knowledge, it could have been taught and there would have been teachers of virtue out there. Therefore, Socrates concluded that virtue is only a trait that is bestowed by God and is not
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