2021/11/06 by Ratcliffe, John G., Stone, Sophia, Tschantz, Steven T.
#01A20 #FOS: Mathematics #Geometric Topology (math.GT) #History and Overview (math.HO)
paper · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2111.03946
In this paper, we analyze the two geometrical passages in Plato's Meno, (81c -- 85c) and (86e4 -- 87b2), from the points of view of a geometer in Plato's time and today. We give, in our opinion, a complete explanation of the difficult second geometrical passage. Our explanation solves an ingenious geometry puzzle that has baffled readers of Plato's Meno for over 2,400 years.