With philosophical brilliance and an entertaining style, Plato explores these intriguing issues in "Gorgias" and "Meno", respectively. HIs spokesman, the self-depreciating but ironic Socrates, discusses the questions "Is power over others a good?" and "Do we already know everything, but have simply forgotten it all, and therefore need to remember?" with interlocuters who think they know the answer (when it appears that in fact they do not), and who get confused, exasperated and even angry with him in the process (perhaps mirroring our own responses!) We shall read the works in class, and I will provide a running philosophical commentary. You will need the current Penguin translations by Emlyn-Jones (Gorgias) and Beresford (Meno).