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One of the best known and most influential philosophers of all time, Plato has been admired for thousands of years as a teacher, writer, and student. His interests and knowledge were wide and varied, including science, mathematics, and poetry.
Plato was born in Athens around 428 B.C. His family, both on his father's and mother's sides, was aristocratic and politically influential. It's thought that, in addition to his parents, his immediate family included two older brothers and a younger sister. Plato's original name was Aristocles, but he became known during his school days as Platon, which means broad, because of his broad forehead (and, presumably, his broad range of knowledge).
It should be noted that nearly everything believed to be true about Plato's life is based on hypotheses by generations of scholars. These scholars have pieced together historical information to form what we accept as a reasonably accurate account of Plato's life. Some of the information comes from Plato's VIIth Letter, which contains some autobiographical information. Most of Plato's extensive writings, however, contained no, or very little, mention of himself.
It's clear that Plato--who as a young man studied and wrote poetry, participated in military service, and contemplated politics--was tremendously influenced by his relationship with Socrates, the Athenian philosopher and teacher. Plato became a disciple of Socrates when he was about 18 years old, turning his energies and attention philosophy and the question of virtue. Plato was profoundly affected by his teacher's trial and execution by political leaders about 10 years later, in 399 B.C.
After Socrates was killed, an embittered Plato left Athens, pronouncing that nothing would be right in the world until "kings were philosophers or philosophers were kings." He traveled to Greek cities in Africa and Italy, not returning to Athens until 387 B.C. It's thought that he was captured by pirates and held for ransom on his way back to Athens. While traveling, he met with priests and prophets from many places, studying not only philosophy, but astronomy, geometry, geology, and religion.
After returning to Athens, Plato devoted himself to studying and teaching philosophy. At the center of his philosophy is the concept of "forms." Plato believed that the changing world he experienced, and the things within that world, are merely reflections of a separate world that contains eternal, unchanging entities called forms. Forms, Plato said, are the true objects of knowledge and understanding, and only people who seek to understand them can have lives that are truly happy and healthy. These views are best expressed in the Republic, one of Plato's works from the middle part of his life.
In addition to philosophy, Plato had an abiding interest in mathematics, which he said idealized abstractions and was a pure form of thought. He considered mathematical thought to be lofty and separate from "common" thought, a category in which he included science. Plato believed that mathematics, in its purest form, could be applied to the heavens. In a dialogue called Timaeus, Plato asserted that heavenly bodies exhibit perfect geometric form, and that they move in exact circles. His thoughts concerning mathematics and its relation to astronomy were very influential on astronomers at the time.
Around 387 B.C. Plato founded a school outside of the walls of Athens that might be considered the first university. Located west of the city on land that once belonged to a Greek named Academus, the school was called the Academy. Plato's interest in mathematics was reflected in the Academy's curriculum, in which the study was emphasized; it is said that above the school's doorway was written, "Let no one ignorant of mathematics enter here." The Academy was a functioning school for nearly one thousand years; it was closed down by the Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian in 529 A.D.
Plato left Athens twice more in his life. He went to Italy in 367 B.C. to try to tutor Dionysus II, who had recently been named supreme ruler after his father died. He agreed to tutor Dionysus II, perhaps recalling his philosopher-king statements following the death of Socrates. Plato tried, but he found the situation in Italy to be highly unsatisfactory; he returned to Athens two years later. In 361 B.C., he was persuaded to return to Italy to try tutoring the young king again; but he did so only briefly before returning to Athens for good. It was around the time that Plato was travelling to and from Italy that his most famous student, Aristotle, entered the Academy.
There is little known about the later years of Plato's life. It's thought that he continued on at the Academy, teaching, conversing, and writing. He died in 347 B.C. at the age of about 80, leaving the Academy to his sister's son.
Plato's extensive and influential writings are generally divided into three groups. The first group is called the "Socratic" dialogues and are thought to have been written during the 12 years or so after the death of Socrates. These works--including the Apology, the Crito, Charmides, Euthyphro, Georgias, Ion, Hippias Minor and Major, and Protagoras--adhere closely to the teachings of Socrates. It is not known whether Plato did any writing before Socrates' death, but it's clear that he began writing extensively after it.
The second group of writings come from what is known as the "middle" or "transitional" period of Plato's life. This was the time after he returned from his travels and founded the Academy. These works probably include the Meno, Cratylus, Euthydemus, Menexenus, Phaedo, Phaerus, Republic, and the Symposium. The works from Plato's middle period focus on the metaphysical speculation for which he is widely recognized.
The third group of writings, which are known as the "later" dialogues, were written after Plato returned to the Academy from his tutoring trips to Italy. These works--including the Critias, Parmenides, Philebus, Sophist, Statesman, Timaeus, Theatetus, and Laws--are reflective and examine the metaphysical speculation of the "middle" works.
The works, thoughts, and theories of Plato have remained influential for more than 2000 years. His life and writings still fascinate scholars and students around the world.
Plato was born in Athens around 428 B.C. His family, both on his father's and mother's sides, was aristocratic and politically influential. It's thought that, in addition to his parents, his immediate family included two older brothers and a younger sister. Plato's original name was Aristocles, but he became known during his school days as Platon, which means broad, because of his broad forehead (and, presumably, his broad range of knowledge).
It should be noted that nearly everything believed to be true about Plato's life is based on hypotheses by generations of scholars. These scholars have pieced together historical information to form what we accept as a reasonably accurate account of Plato's life. Some of the information comes from Plato's VIIth Letter, which contains some autobiographical information. Most of Plato's extensive writings, however, contained no, or very little, mention of himself.
It's clear that Plato--who as a young man studied and wrote poetry, participated in military service, and contemplated politics--was tremendously influenced by his relationship with Socrates, the Athenian philosopher and teacher. Plato became a disciple of Socrates when he was about 18 years old, turning his energies and attention philosophy and the question of virtue. Plato was profoundly affected by his teacher's trial and execution by political leaders about 10 years later, in 399 B.C.
After Socrates was killed, an embittered Plato left Athens, pronouncing that nothing would be right in the world until "kings were philosophers or philosophers were kings." He traveled to Greek cities in Africa and Italy, not returning to Athens until 387 B.C. It's thought that he was captured by pirates and held for ransom on his way back to Athens. While traveling, he met with priests and prophets from many places, studying not only philosophy, but astronomy, geometry, geology, and religion.
After returning to Athens, Plato devoted himself to studying and teaching philosophy. At the center of his philosophy is the concept of "forms." Plato believed that the changing world he experienced, and the things within that world, are merely reflections of a separate world that contains eternal, unchanging entities called forms. Forms, Plato said, are the true objects of knowledge and understanding, and only people who seek to understand them can have lives that are truly happy and healthy. These views are best expressed in the Republic, one of Plato's works from the middle part of his life.
In addition to philosophy, Plato had an abiding interest in mathematics, which he said idealized abstractions and was a pure form of thought. He considered mathematical thought to be lofty and separate from "common" thought, a category in which he included science. Plato believed that mathematics, in its purest form, could be applied to the heavens. In a dialogue called Timaeus, Plato asserted that heavenly bodies exhibit perfect geometric form, and that they move in exact circles. His thoughts concerning mathematics and its relation to astronomy were very influential on astronomers at the time.
Around 387 B.C. Plato founded a school outside of the walls of Athens that might be considered the first university. Located west of the city on land that once belonged to a Greek named Academus, the school was called the Academy. Plato's interest in mathematics was reflected in the Academy's curriculum, in which the study was emphasized; it is said that above the school's doorway was written, "Let no one ignorant of mathematics enter here." The Academy was a functioning school for nearly one thousand years; it was closed down by the Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian in 529 A.D.
Plato left Athens twice more in his life. He went to Italy in 367 B.C. to try to tutor Dionysus II, who had recently been named supreme ruler after his father died. He agreed to tutor Dionysus II, perhaps recalling his philosopher-king statements following the death of Socrates. Plato tried, but he found the situation in Italy to be highly unsatisfactory; he returned to Athens two years later. In 361 B.C., he was persuaded to return to Italy to try tutoring the young king again; but he did so only briefly before returning to Athens for good. It was around the time that Plato was travelling to and from Italy that his most famous student, Aristotle, entered the Academy.
There is little known about the later years of Plato's life. It's thought that he continued on at the Academy, teaching, conversing, and writing. He died in 347 B.C. at the age of about 80, leaving the Academy to his sister's son.
Plato's extensive and influential writings are generally divided into three groups. The first group is called the "Socratic" dialogues and are thought to have been written during the 12 years or so after the death of Socrates. These works--including the Apology, the Crito, Charmides, Euthyphro, Georgias, Ion, Hippias Minor and Major, and Protagoras--adhere closely to the teachings of Socrates. It is not known whether Plato did any writing before Socrates' death, but it's clear that he began writing extensively after it.
The second group of writings come from what is known as the "middle" or "transitional" period of Plato's life. This was the time after he returned from his travels and founded the Academy. These works probably include the Meno, Cratylus, Euthydemus, Menexenus, Phaedo, Phaerus, Republic, and the Symposium. The works from Plato's middle period focus on the metaphysical speculation for which he is widely recognized.
The third group of writings, which are known as the "later" dialogues, were written after Plato returned to the Academy from his tutoring trips to Italy. These works--including the Critias, Parmenides, Philebus, Sophist, Statesman, Timaeus, Theatetus, and Laws--are reflective and examine the metaphysical speculation of the "middle" works.
The works, thoughts, and theories of Plato have remained influential for more than 2000 years. His life and writings still fascinate scholars and students around the world.
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