Meno (82)

I remarked just now, Meno, that you are a rogue and so here you are asking if I can instruct you, when I say there is no teaching

I assure you, Socrates; that was not my intention I only spoke from habit. But if you can somehow prove to me that it is as you say, pray do so.

It is no easy matter, but still I am willing to try my best for your sake. Just call one of your own troop of attendants there,

Certainly. You, I say, come here.

He is a Greek, I suppose, and speaks Greek?

Oh yes, to be sure—born in the house.

Now observe closely whether he strikes you as recollecting or as learning from me.

I will.

Tell me, boy, do you know that a square figure is like this?[*]

I do.

Now, a square figure has these lines, four in number, all equal?

Certainly.

And these, drawn through the middle,[*] are equal too, are they not?

Yes.

And a figure of this sort may be larger or smaller?

To be sure.

Now if this side were two feet and that also two, how many feet would the whole be? Or let me put it thus: if one way it were two feet, and only one foot the other, of course the space would be two feet taken once ?

Yes.

But as it is two feet also on that side, it must be twice two feet?

It is.

Then the space is twice two feet?

Yes.

Well, how many are twice two feet? Count and tell me.

Four, Socrates.

And might there not be another figure twice the size of this, but of the same sort, with all its sides equal like this one?

Yes.

Then how many feet will it be?

Eight.

Come now, try and tell me how long will each side

Clearly, Socrates, double.

Do you observe, Meno, that I am not teaching the boy anything, but merely asking him each time? And now he supposes that he knows about the line required to make a figure of eight square feet; or do you not think he does?

I do.

Well, does he know?

Certainly not.

He just supposes it, from the double size required?

Yes.