In the Apology Socrates does not speak at great length about human knowledge; however, his views towards it take shape quickly in the dialogue. Socrates knew that he was on trial for holding a particular type of knowledge that he could only believe was human.1 Socrates explained that the Oracle at Delphi proclaimed he was the wisest man in Athens. ( Apology, 21a) This created a conundrum for Socrates as he believed that he was not wise at all. ( Apology, 21b.) Socrates believed this was wrong and he went to various people in Athens to determine if they could be wiser. After meeting with the politicians, poets, and craftsman Socrates found that these men only held knowledge of their individual crafts. For example, the craftsmen may have had
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He explained that the men wrote of possibly divine things, as Socrates compared their work to that of a prophet. (Apology, 22c) Socrates said the poets were channeling something from within, but they had no understanding of what they had written. (Apology 22e.) Of course, Socrates does not explain the theory of recollection until the Meno. However, I thought this was an impressive start to the belief of recollection theory for Socrates.
In the Meno, Socrates begins to prepare his case for the theory of recollection. Socrates and Meno are trying to determine if virtue could be taught or if it was something we were born with. (Meno, 70a) To determine if that was possible they first tried to define virtue. Ultimately, in their quest for the answer they find themselves in a paradox. If you already believe you hold knowledge, you will not look for it, and if you do not already know you may not understand it is right in front of you. Socrates refuted this paradox through his theory of recollection. (Meno, ) Socrates believed that the ideas or knowledge we possess are not new but are something our souls learned before entering our bodies. (Meno, 86a.) Socrates found through questioning one another we could invoke these ideas, and begin to understand them (Meno, 85d.) Socrates used the example of the slave boy to show that the boy already possessed mathematical knowledge.
He explained that the men wrote of possibly divine things, as Socrates compared their work to that of a prophet. (Apology, 22c) Socrates said the poets were channeling something from within, but they had no understanding of what they had written. (Apology 22e.) Of course, Socrates does not explain the theory of recollection until the Meno. However, I thought this was an impressive start to the belief of recollection theory for Socrates.
In the Meno, Socrates begins to prepare his case for the theory of recollection. Socrates and Meno are trying to determine if virtue could be taught or if it was something we were born with. (Meno, 70a) To determine if that was possible they first tried to define virtue. Ultimately, in their quest for the answer they find themselves in a paradox. If you already believe you hold knowledge, you will not look for it, and if you do not already know you may not understand it is right in front of you. Socrates refuted this paradox through his theory of recollection. (Meno, ) Socrates believed that the ideas or knowledge we possess are not new but are something our souls learned before entering our bodies. (Meno, 86a.) Socrates found through questioning one another we could invoke these ideas, and begin to understand them (Meno, 85d.) Socrates used the example of the slave boy to show that the boy already possessed mathematical knowledge.