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The philosophical discussion begins as Cebes brings up Socrates' Theory of Recollection, which claims that all learning is recollection. Simmias cannot quite remember the proof of that theory, and asks for an explanation. Socrates begins by pointing out that we can be reminded of one thing by being made conscious of another thing. For instance, if one sees a lyre or an article of clothing that belongs to a beloved, one will immediately be reminded …

…can hold of objects in themselves. Thus, in the case of our two equal sticks, each stick participates in the Form of Equality independent of the other. However, we wouldn't normally think of a single stick on its own of being able to have the property of equality. In saying that Equality is a property that is intrinsic to objects rather than holding between them, Plato makes himself vulnerable to a whole series of objections.