Plato

Plato[1†]

Plato (428/427 or 424/423 – 348 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher born in Athens during the Classical period[1†]. He was a student of Socrates and later became the teacher of Aristotle[1†][2†][1†]. Plato is best known as the founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world[1†][3†]. His philosophical works have had unparalleled influence and he is considered one of the major figures of Classical antiquity[1†][2†][1†].

Plato’s contributions to philosophy were many and varied. He introduced the concept of forms, which he believed were the most important constituents of reality, accessible not to the senses but to the mind alone[1†][2†]. His philosophical doctrines, which later became known as Platonism, have had a profound impact on Western thought[1†].

In addition to his philosophical work, Plato was also an innovator of the written dialogue and dialectic forms in philosophy[1†]. His entire body of work is believed to have survived intact for over 2,400 years[1†]. Through his writings, Plato raised problems for what became all the major areas of both theoretical philosophy and practical philosophy[1†].

Plato’s influence extends beyond philosophy to mathematics, where he made significant contributions[1†][3†]. His legacy continues to be felt today, with Alfred North Whitehead famously stating: "the safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato"[1†].

Early Years and Education

Plato was born around 428/427 B.C., during the final years of the Golden Age of Pericles’ Athens[4†]. He was of noble Athenian lineage on both sides[4†]. His father Ariston died when Plato was a child[4†]. His mother Perictione remarried the politician Pyrilampes[4†].

Plato grew up during the Peloponnesian War (431-404) and came of age around the time of Athens’ final defeat by Sparta and the political chaos that followed[4†]. He was educated in philosophy, poetry, and gymnastics by distinguished Athenian teachers including the philosopher Cratylus[4†].

The young Plato became a devoted follower of Socrates—indeed, he was one of the youths Socrates was condemned for allegedly corrupting[4†]. Plato’s recollections of Socrates’ lived-out philosophy and style of relentless questioning, the Socratic method, became the basis for his early dialogues[4†].

Following Socrates’ forced suicide, Plato spent 12 years traveling in southern Italy, Sicily, and Egypt, studying with other philosophers including followers of the mystic mathematician Pythagoras[4†]. Plato’s time among the Pythagoreans piqued his interest in mathematics[4†].

Career Development and Achievements

Plato’s career was marked by his deep commitment to philosophy and learning. After being a student of Socrates, he later became the teacher of Aristotle[2†]. His most significant accomplishment was the establishment of the Academy in Athens in 387 BC[2†][5†]. The Academy was a school dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and philosophical inquiry[2†][5†]. It served as a gathering place for intellectuals, students, and philosophers, providing a structured environment for the study of various subjects[2†][5†]. The Academy played a crucial role in shaping the development of Western philosophy and became a renowned institution that lasted for centuries[2†][5†].

Plato’s philosophical system was centered around his Theory of Forms, also known as the Theory of Ideas[2†][5†]. According to Plato, the physical world we perceive is a flawed and imperfect reflection of a higher reality consisting of timeless and unchanging Forms[2†][5†]. These Forms are the ultimate reality and represent the essence or perfect ideal of objects, concepts, or qualities[2†][5†]. Plato believed that true knowledge can be attained by understanding these eternal Forms through philosophical contemplation and reasoning[2†][5†].

Plato’s dialogues are among his most influential contributions[2†][5†]. Through his dialogues, Plato presented philosophical ideas and arguments in the form of conversations between characters[2†][5†]. These dialogues often featured Socrates as the main protagonist, engaging in discussions with other individuals to explore philosophical concepts, ethics, politics, and metaphysics[2†][5†]. Plato’s dialogues were not merely a means of conveying his ideas but also a method of critical inquiry, inviting readers to actively engage with the content and question their own beliefs and assumptions[2†][5†].

His ideas and theories have left a lasting legacy, influencing generations of philosophers and contributing to the development of Western thought[2†][5†].

First Publication of His Main Works

Plato’s philosophical works were primarily in the form of dialogues, with Socrates often being the main character[6†]. Here are some of his most significant works:

• Apology: This work is Plato’s version of the speech given by Socrates as he defended himself in 399 BC against the charges of "corrupting the young, and by not believing in the gods in whom the city believes, but in other daimonia that are novel"[6†][2†][7†].
• Crito: A dialogue that depicts a conversation between Socrates and his wealthy friend Crito regarding justice, injustice, and the appropriate response to injustice[6†][2†].
• Phaedo: This dialogue describes the death of Socrates and is also Plato’s fourth and last dialogue to detail the philosopher’s final days, following Euthyphro, Apology, and Crito[6†][2†].
• Symposium: A philosophical text that depicts a friendly contest of extemporaneous speeches given by a group of notable men attending a banquet. The men include the philosopher Socrates, the general and political figure Alcibiades, and the comic playwright Aristophanes[6†][2†][7†].
• The Republic: Plato’s best-known work and has proven to be one of the most influential works of philosophy and political theory. In it, Plato explores the question of justice and examines whether or not the just man is happier than the unjust man by considering a series of different cities coming into existence "in speech"[6†][2†][7†].
• Statesman: Also known by its Latin title, Politicus, is a Socratic dialogue of the Platonic dialogue. It is Plato’s best-known work on political philosophy[6†][8†].
• The Laws: Plato’s last and longest dialogue. The conversation depicted in the work’s twelve books begins with the question of who is given the credit for establishing a civilization’s laws[6†][2†][7†].

Each of these works has had a profound impact on Western philosophy, and they continue to be studied for their insights into ethics, politics, metaphysics, and more[6†][2†][7†][8†][6†].

Analysis and Evaluation

Plato’s philosophy is often analyzed through the lens of his dialogues, which present a unique challenge for interpretation[9†]. His works are not straightforward treatises, but rather dialogues between characters, often with Socrates as the main speaker[9†][10†]. This format means that it is often unclear which character, if any, in a given dialogue speaks for Plato[9†].

Plato’s method of argumentation, often referred to as the method of analysis, is a significant aspect of his philosophical approach[9†][10†]. This method involves reasoning back to first principles[9†][10†]. It is a process of uncovering what is already implicitly known, or ‘unforgetting’, according to Socratic intellectualism[9†][10†].

The principle of charity, a major principle of interpretation, is often applied when interpreting Plato’s works[9†]. This principle directs interpreters to put as favorable a construction as possible on the passage under consideration[9†]. When an argument in a philosophical text contains an argument whose conclusion follows from its explicit premises only by the addition of a “tacit” or “suppressed” premise, interpreters, following the principle of charity, will search for a suppressed premise rather than charge the philosopher with a non sequitur[9†].

Plato’s works, particularly “The Republic”, have been subject to extensive analysis and critique over centuries[9†][10†]. His ideas on justice, forms, the ideal state, and the philosopher king, among others, have been incredibly influential, shaping Western philosophical tradition[9†][10†].

Plato’s philosophy has been interpreted and reinterpreted over the centuries, and his influence on philosophical thought cannot be overstated. Alfred North Whitehead famously said: "the safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato"[9†][10†].

Personal Life

Plato was born around May 21 in 428 or 427 B.C., a year or two after Pericles died and during the Peloponnesian War[11†]. He was of noble Athenian lineage on both sides[11†][12†]. His father, Ariston, died when Plato was a child[11†][4†]. His mother, Perictione, remarried the politician Pyrilampes[11†][4†]. According to Diogenes Laertius, Plato’s father, Ariston, was an Athenian aristocrat who traced his lineage to Codrus, the king of Athens, and to Melanthus, the king of Messina[11†][13†].

Plato grew up during the Peloponnesian War (431-404) and came of age around the time of Athens’ final defeat by Sparta and the political chaos that followed[11†][4†]. He was educated in philosophy, poetry, and gymnastics by distinguished Athenian teachers including the philosopher Cratylus[11†][4†].

The young Plato became a devoted follower of Socrates—indeed, he was one of the youths Socrates was condemned for allegedly corrupting[11†][4†]. Plato’s recollections of Socrates’ lived-out philosophy and style of relentless questioning, the Socratic method, became the basis for his early dialogues[11†][4†].

Plato had a lifelong relationship with the ruling family of Syracuse, who would later seek his advice on reforming their city’s politics[11†][4†].

Conclusion and Legacy

Plato’s legacy is profound and enduring. He is one of the most important figures of the Ancient Greek world and the entire history of Western thought[4†]. His philosophical works, written in the form of dialogues, have had an unparalleled influence on philosophical thought[4†]. His exploration of a wide range of fundamental questions in philosophy has made him a central figure in philosophical discussions[4†].

Plato’s work on the use of reason to develop a more fair and just society that is focused on the equality of individuals established the foundation for modern democracy[4†][14†]. His flawless sense of style and form led to logical and aesthetic coherence displayed in his dialogues[4†][15†]. His legacy survives in what is known as Platonism[4†][15†].

In metaphysics, Plato envisioned a systematic, rational treatment of the forms and their interrelations, starting with the most fundamental among them (the Good, or the One)[4†][2†]. In ethics and moral psychology, he developed the view that the good life requires not just a certain kind of knowledge but also habituation to healthy emotional responses and therefore harmony between the three parts of the soul (according to Plato, reason, spirit, and appetite)[4†][2†].

Plato’s works have survived intact for over 2,400 years, and they continue to be studied for their profound insights into philosophy[4†]. His philosophical doctrines form the foundation of Platonism, a school of thought that has influenced a wide range of fields, including metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics[4†].

Key Information

• Also Known As: Aristocles[1†]
• Born: 428/427 BCE, Athens, Greece[1†][2†][1†]
• Died: 348/347 BCE, Athens, Greece[1†][2†][1†]
• Nationality: Greek[1†][2†][1†]
• Occupation: Philosopher[1†][2†][1†]
• Notable Works: “Apology”, “Charmides”, “Cratylus”, “Critias”, “Crito”, “Epigrams”, “Euthydemus”, “Euthyphro”, “Gorgias”, “Hippias Major”, “Hippias Minor”, “Ion”, “Laches”, “Laws”, “Letters”, “Lysis”, “Menexenus”, “Meno”, “Parmenides”, “Phaedo”, “Phaedrus”, “Philebus”, “Protagoras”, “Sophist”, “Statesman”, “Symposium”, “The Republic”, “Theaetetus”, "Timaeus"[1†][2†]
• Notable Achievements: Founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world[1†][2†][1†]. Innovator of the written dialogue and dialectic forms in philosophy[1†]. His philosophical doctrines would later become known as Platonism[1†].

References and Citations:

1. Wikipedia (English) - Plato [website] - link
2. Britannica - Plato: Greek philosopher [website] - link
3. Biography Online - Plato Biography [website] - link
4. History - Plato - Life, Philosophy & Quotes [website] - link
5. Have Fun With History - 10 Plato Accomplishments and Achievements [website] - link
6. SparkNotes - Selected Works of Plato: Study Guide [website] - link
7. Great Thinkers - Major Works - Plato [website] - link
8. YourArticleLibrary - Six Essential Works Done by Plato [website] - link
9. University of Washington - Analyzing Plato’s Arguments: Plato and Platonism by S. Marc Cohen and David Keyt [document] - link
10. JSTOR - Plato and the Method of Analysis [website] - link
11. ThoughtCo - An Introduction to Plato and His Philosophical Ideas [website] - link
12. Britannica - Plato and his philosophy of Platonism [website] - link
13. Great Thinkers - Biography of Plato [website] - link
14. Biography - Plato [website] - link
15. Queensborough Community College, CUNY - Introduction To Philosophy by Philip A. Pecorino, Ph.D. - Plato legacy [website] - link