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Innate Knowledge

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Innate Knowledge
Universal knowledge is not to be acquired, but is innate. Plato's thoughts considered as his most influential work was the theory of having Innate Knowledge or in other words natural knowledge; implying that knowledge is already in you. I believe this statement is to be true and I argue in favor on Plato’s works in relation to the same thinking. In his work, Plato claims that innate knowledge is not earned but instead implies that knowledge is already in you from birth. Plato argues that all wisdom is recollection; he believed that individuals did not learn new things, but rather recall or recollect old information meaning it was learned prior to mortality. This dialog has a dramatic significance. He considered memory to be a method for breaking down and debating data and thought intellectual humility was vital. It can be seen how Socrates brings down Meno’s confidence when he thought that he knew what virtue was. By carefully questioning, Socrates makes Meno doubt: “Socrates, I used to be told, before I knew you, that you were always doubting yourself and making others doubt.” (Cottingham, Innate Knowledge, page 3). …show more content…
The Learners Paradox states that either we know something or we do not. If we do not know then we cannot learn it because we do not know what we are looking for and will not be able to find it. Plato right away declines Meno’s paradox and replies to it with the priests and priestesses testimony that says that the soul is immortal and that what we consider as learning is just a process of recollecting what we already know. Meno being more confused as Plato for an explanation and asks him to please prove that to him. “ Yes, Socrates;but what do you mean by saying that we do not learn, and that what we call learning is only a process of recollection? Can you teach me how this is?” said Meno, (Cottingham, Innate Knowledge, page

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