Xairetw, all my fellows enlisted members and friends. I thank you my admirable friend, Maximius, for your excellent words, I am trying to be worthy of your words.

Firstly, I would like with brief words to refer of what I believe for the doctrine of anamnesis or recollection. So the path, which can lead to what we call recollection begin from our perception or thought, which actually is associating with, any notion on the body, made by an outer “object”, and being discrete from all other adjustment of thinking. It provides the mind with an individual idea, which we call sensation, which is the “genuine” access of any idea into the perspective of our thought by the senses. The same idea, when reappear without the “object” on the external sensory, is remembrance. If, now, it will be wanted by the mind, and with great effort was bring into being, is recollection. After it is contemplation, which, I believe, is what the French call reverie;

However, let articulate what Plato or even the New-Platonic philosophers stated about that. Plato said through the words of Socrates: “For in truth to seek and to learn is wholly Recollection. Therefore one must not be persuaded by that eristic doctrine (namely that if ignorant in ignorance you must remain) for that on the one hand would make us idle and is a pleasant doctrine for the weak among mankind to hear; while this other doctrine makes us industrious and apt to seek. Trusting in which that it is true, I am willing along with you to seek out virtue:--what it is. Meno, 81.” It is understandable from this that the “recollection” of the Meno is of a part with, rather than contradictory with, the moral outlook of the Protagoras and the Gorgias. The recollection of the Meno is the precisely balancing opposite to Callicles’ extraction from discussion in the Gorgias. Recollection, it seems to be similar to the activity of the interlocutor, which has been implied by the nature of Socratic conversation. Views opposed to this are presented in Gregory Vlastos, “Elenchus and Mathematics,” and Gail Fine, “Inquiry in the Meno.”

In addition I found a part of Plutarch works that talks about that. It was talking with reference to his first Platonic Question: “Why does Socrates say in the Theaetetus that he is a barren midwife who merely delivers the ideas of others? Plutarch, claims that the activity of expulsion others’ false beliefs, is a perfectly good way of understanding Socrates’ divine mission. Socrates’ demonstration of the falsity or errors (introduced as refutation) of your views make you less attached to your own views just because they are your own, and you became more agreeable to search for views that are true.

Moreover, Plutarch says, Socratic refutation is valuable whether knowledge is possible or not. “If the Sceptical Academy are right and there is no knowledge, then it is valuable in purging you of false beliefs, like a doctor ridding you of disease.” Nevertheless, if the doctrinal Platonists are right in thinking that we can know the truth, by getting it from Plato, then readers of Plato can achieve this knowledge just as Plato could; Although, you can achieve that, only if not previously be certain that they have knowledge. Plutarch adds that Socrates did not produce “everyday knowledge” in people; like “a midwife he encouraged them to think for themselves and develop the understanding which they already have, but in a form which is immature, confused and in need of someone to nurture and stabilize it.” Plutarch identifies this process with “recollection”.

Finally, I would like to refer to what I believe is the true root of that doctrine. Wilamowitz (Der Glande der Hellenen. Vol 2. 1932, p. 199 connected the Orphic and the Pythagorean views. “You will find at the Hades’ chambers an fountain...and an other, with icy water flowing from her...and you will state...Just from that cold water give me to swallow, which is pouring out from the of Mnemosynis...and you will be a hero;” (IG XIV n. 638 Kaib. Harrison-Murray Prolegomena 1 p.661.) That was a Orphic inscription and is well noticed that is referring to the Memory (Mnemosyni) or better recollection! That is not the only one (except to the IG. OF. and PGM, it is also well notice some articles to the Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik.)

Yours,

Nikolaos Cleomenes.