One of the questions we spent an amount of time discussing in class was whether virtue can be learned or if it is only recollected. I think that this can be broadened to encase almost all forms of knowledge. Is it learned, or recollected? In 82a Socrates says to Meno, "-I who assert that there is no learning but only recollection-" clearly giving his opinion on the question. However, only shortly before in 81c Socrates says, "Now, since the soul is immortal and has come to be many times and has seen both the things here and those in Hades -- in fact all things -- there isn't anything it hasn't learned." Here Socrates is saying that the soul has learned, though it was in a past life. But even if it was a past life, is it not the same soul? And because this soul has learned things in the past that is why it recollects all of its knowledge. In order for this recollection to take place though the knowledge was previously learned because it has to come from somewhere. As for learning virtue specifically, I believe it can be done by observation and example, but probably not in a traditional classroom-type setting with a teacher.
-Rachel Tidwell
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
It seems like Socrates is almost saying that the things we've learned has comed from a past life. I don't agree with Socrates here; however, I do think that virtue is something we learn my studying and observation. You don't learn virtue while in a classroom setting, but through life situations & people you deal with on a regular basis.
ReplyDelete