What does the Theory of Recollection propose about knowledge?

The Theory of Recollection, particularly associated with the philosopher Plato, posits that knowledge is not entirely acquired through sensory experience or teaching, but rather is a form of recalling innate truths that the soul already knows. According to this theory, the process of learning involves rediscovering or recollecting truths that were forgotten during the soul's time in the realm of forms before birth. This concept emphasizes the idea that knowledge is intrinsic and that individuals already possess the capacity for understanding, which can be tapped into through appropriate questioning and reflection.

By choosing the explanation that learning is a process of recalling what was forgotten, the answer aligns with Plato’s belief in the immortality of the soul and its familiarity with the true forms of knowledge before entering the physical world. Thus, the theory promotes the view that education serves to draw out this existing knowledge rather than to implant new ideas or concepts from scratch.