meno   

if this is the proper name, then you, Meno's slave, are prepared to

affirm that the double space is the square of the diagonal?

Boy. Certainly, Socrates.

Soc. What do you say of him, Meno? Were not all these answers

given out of his own head?

Men. Yes, they were all his own.

Soc. And yet, as we were just now saying, he did not know?

Men. True.

Soc. But still he had in him those notions of his-had he not?

Men. Yes.

Soc. Then he who does not know may still have true notions of that

which he does not know?

Men. He has.

Soc. And at present these notions have just been stirred up in

him, as in a dream; but if he were frequently asked the same

questions, in different forms, he would know as well as any one at

last?

Men. I dare say.

Soc. Without any one teaching him he will recover his knowledge

for himself, if he is only asked questions?

Men. Yes.

Soc. And this spontaneous recovery of knowledge in him is

recollection?

Men. True.

Soc. And this knowledge which he now has must he not either have

acquired or always possessed?

Men. Yes.

Soc. But if he always possessed this knowledge he would always

have known; or if he has acquired the knowledge he could not have

acquired it in this life, unless he has been taught geometry; for he

may be made to do the same with all geometry and every other branch of

knowledge. Now, has any one ever taught him all this? You must know