Abduction and model based reasoning in Plato's meno

Priyedarshi Jetli

pp. 221-245

in: Lorenzo Magnani (ed), Model-based reasoning in science and technology, Berlin, Springer, 2014

Abstrakt

In the elenchus of Meno, Socrates employs simultaneous algorithmic and abductive visual model-based reasoning. Even though the algorithmic method would quickly provide the answer, Socrates' purpose is to make the slave boy recollect the Form of Diagonal. Recollection itself is abductive discovery and hypothesis generation. Contrary to standard interpretation true opinion rather than knowledge is recollected. For knowledge, a tether, an account or justification is required that cannot be recollected. Rather it involves abduction–deduction–induction chains of reasoning. The algorithm method is also deficient because whereas the squaring algorithm is easily grasped and employed by the slave boy, the inverse square rooting algorithm is not available to him and would be extremely difficult for him to grasp for he has not been educated in mathematics. The visual abductive model which involves counting as well as seeing is hence essential for the boy to acquire knowledge of a simple geometric proposition.

Cited authors

Plato

Socrates