Plato, my favorite among the many philosophers and psychologists in the history of the life sciences, believed that the soul when still disembodied and separate from the mortal decomposing flesh has all the virtues and knowledge in the world. This disembodied soul is all knowing, and is perfect. However when the soul united with the flesh, it has forgotten all its innate virtues. It is only through the process of recollection can the soul ever acquire its perfection and previous knowledge. Therefore, learning occurs.
