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Plato The Greek Philosopher: Socrates Aristotle

This is information about Plato, Greek philosopher in 16th Century

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36 views2 pages

Plato The Greek Philosopher: Socrates Aristotle

This is information about Plato, Greek philosopher in 16th Century

Uploaded by

manuel33
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PLATO

THE GREEK PHILOSOPHER


Plato (423 BC – 348 BC) was a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician,
student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the
Academy in Athens – the first institution of higher learning in the Western
world. Along with his mentor, Socrates and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped
to lay the foundations of Western philosophy and science. Plato influenced a
whole range of subjects from philosophy to maths, logic and ethics.

“The safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is


that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato.”

Alfred North Whitehead

Early life of Plato

The early life of Plato is only partially recorded, but he was born in 428/427
BCE to an aristocratic family in Athens. His father’s side claimed descent from
the god Poseidon and the last kings of Athens. Some sources suggest that his
real name was Aristocles, and that ‘Plato’ was a nickname given to him later in
life. Plato roughly translates as the ‘broad’ It may have been a reflection of the
breadth of interests that Plato considered.

He was given a good education, and he soon impressed those around him with
his speed of learning and clarity of thought. He was also drawn to the
philosopher Socrates. Socrates was a great and independent thinker who
gathered a group of young men to talk and discuss philosophy. Plato was
deeply impressed by the personality, spirit and philosophic detachment of his
mentor Socrates. As Plato writes:

“Oh dear Pan and all the other Gods of this place, grant that I may be beautiful
inside.  Let all my external possessions be in friendly harmony with what is
within.  May I consider the wise man rich.  As for gold, let me have as much as
a moderate man could bear and carry with him.”

– Plato, “Phaedrus” – a prayer of Socrates, as portrayed in the dialogue.

Plato was deeply hurt after Socrates’ trial in 399 BC where he was condemned
for ‘corrupting the youth of Athens’ and sentenced to death – being forced to
drink hemlock. After the death of Socrates, Plato left Athens, disgusted with
the mob-mentality of Athenian democracy. He travelled widely around the
Meditteranean region, visiting Greece, Italy and Egypt. He came into contact
with followers of Pythagoras and he was influenced by some of their
philosophic ideas.
Relationship with Socrates

Socrates appears in most of Plato’s writings, and it is clear that Socrates and
his Socratic dialogues had a big influence on Plato’s own writing and style of
teaching.

It is only through Plato, that we get a clear idea of Socrates’ philosophy and
way of life. In ‘Apology of Socrates‘, Plato writes an account of Socrates
defending himself in a trial which ultimately led to his own death. It presents
Socrates as a model philosopher, calmly putting the ideals of justice above any
personal desire.

“It would be better for me … that multitudes of men should disagree with me
rather than that I, being one, should be out of harmony with myself.”

Plato (Words spoken by Socrates,) “The Gorgias”

However, Plato was not merely transcribing the words of Socrates; he was also
using his own interpretations and ideas to those which he learned from him.

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