Plato was a philosopher from Ancient Greece who founded the Academy of Athens and used it as a platform to convey his ideas about ethics, politics, and philosophy. Plato focused on Philosophical topics such as Epistemology and Metaphysics. He explored political science and looked for the best form of government, and he expanded what we know regarding the dichotomy of knowledge and opinion as well the idea of “nature vs. nurture”. Plato led quite a remarkable life.
In the beginning, Plato was born in Athens around 428 B.C. and was of a noble descent in Greece. He wrestled in the Olympics and was declared the son of Apollo. He became a pupil of Socrates and witnessed the trial which sentenced him to death. Clearly, Socrates had an enormous effect on Plato because Socrates began a revolution in which dying for your beliefs was an act of nobility. This idea is reflected in Plato”s writings. After Socrates’ death, Plato took a trip on a quest for knowledge traveling to places as far as Egypt, and Italy. His trip lasted a daunting twelve years and he did not return to Athens until age forty. It was at this point in his life that he established his school in an area called Academe, which incidentally is where the word Academy comes from. The academy became a place of deep research.
Interestingly, the academy was tuition free. Wealthy students were expected, however, to give gifts. Regardless, the idea of a free education is not only something Plato promoted, but clearly was something he practiced as well. The only requirement was a good knowledge of geometry. A wide array of studies were offered at the academy including: Mathematics, Astronomy, Music, Literature, Law, History, and Philosophy. These were all subjects Plato studied, and he certainly had a hand in each ones curriculum. However, his beliefs were derived from his own writings and others as well.
In addition to an influence from Socrates, there are correlations in what Plato believed and what other philosophers such as Pythagorus, Anaxagoras, and Promenades. Ideas such as relationships in math, the idea that reasoning is the way we interpret everything, and a universal unity in all things were inherited into Plato’s writings from these great philosophers. Plato built upon these ideas and others, however, to form an impressive collection of his own writings.
During Plato”s travels he encountered a large variety of governments. He studied many of the different governments in the Greek city-states as well as in other countries. Among the governments he studied were Oligarchies, Democracies, Monarchies, and Aristocracies. He devised the ideal government (utopia) and how it would work.
At the top of the idea government, there exists a class of rulers. Plato argued that only people who actually wanted to rule and had such an ability should really take on this responsibility. This, in a way rules out an Aristocracy because the will to rule and the ability is not something that can be inherited, like nobility. Additionally, there are three groups of people: the Guardians, the Warriors, and the Workers. The guardians would be among the governments brightest and would be made up of philosophers trained for their position. Plato argued that they would never marry or own property in order to show a complete devoutness towards their role in society. The Warriors would obviously be used in defense measures and to protect the state. The Workers were a group of people who would support the states need for food, shelter, and water and other necessities. This form of government appears to be compatible with a Democracy, Monarchy, or an Oligarchy. There is a communistic element in Platos society in that procreation was to be controlled by the government and children born in violation of this policy would be abandoned. Although it can be argued that it may not be perfect, Plato devised other ideas regarding government which, according to history, certainly ring true.
For instance, Plato realized that the best governments created a good balance of classes. The best societies, he determined, would be ones with a small class of the rich and poor, and a large middle class. He also concluded that the best state would contain citizens that had wisdom, courage, and temperance. Ideally, these virtues would lead a state to success. Plato ties his views on virtue, wisdom, and political science in together very well but he also had very influential views on Philosophy.
Regarding Epistemology, which is the study of the theory of knowledge, Plato devised several influential beliefs. First, he claimed knowledge as true belief, or that our interpretation of the world is a result of the true beliefs we attain through knowledge. He also contended that belief and knowledge are two different things, the latter being something that one has justified. Plato also asked questions about recollection, correct opinion without justification, and the discovery of pre-existing knowledge. Plato also
worked in other areas of Philosophy.
For example, Plato theorized extensively in Metaphysics. He devised a theory stating that there is a world (or existence) of two distinct forms. There are the intelligible forms, who are without flaw and there is a perceptual form in which their are imperfect copies of the intelligible forms. This idea can be applied theologically in which God is perfect and the perceived world of humans is not but always strives to figure out God. It can also be applied to the physical world in which there is a perfect world but human senses perceive it differently and therefore flawed. Lastly, it can be applied to the theory of knowledge in which there is an absolute truth, but humans always strive to attain it. All three applications are closely related. Through review of Platos writings, it is clear that he was a genuis in the area of Philosophy and that he led a very fullfilling life.
To conlcude, Plato led a life full of knowledge and discovery but it was not without its bad points. Plato was sold into slavery at one point, observed Socrates who was his most beloved teacher die, and was met with criticism regarding his beliefs. He lived from 427 – 347 B.C. and sadly, his school was closed in 529. Regardless, his writings and ideas live on and have provided the world with an abundance of political, ethical, and philosophical ideas. Plato lives on in his writings.
