Plato

Plato (born Aristocles; c. 427 – 348 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher of the Classical period who is considered a top thinker in Philosophy.

Plato founded the Academy, a philosophical school in Athens where Plato taught the doctrines that would later become known as Platonism.

The philosopher was an innovator of the written dialogue and dialectic forms in philosophy.

He was a system-builder.

He also raised problems for what became all the major areas of both theoretical philosophy and practical philosophy.

Plato's most famous contribution is the theory of forms (or ideas), which has been interpreted as advancing a solution to what is now known as the problem of universals.

He had decisive influence in the pre-Socratic thinkers Pythagoras, Heraclitus, and Parmenides, although much of what is known about them derives from Plato himself.

Along with his teacher Socrates, and Aristotle, his student, Plato is a central figure in the history of philosophy.

Plato's entire body of work is believed to have survived intact for over 2,400 yearsunlike that of nearly all of his contemporaries.

Although their popularity has fluctuated, they have consistently been read and studied through the ages.

Through Neoplatonism, he also greatly influenced both Christian and Islamic philosophy.

In modern times, 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."

Plato (Πλάτων, Plátōn, from ) is actually a nickname.

Although it is a fact the philosopher called himself Platon in his maturity, the origin of this name remains mysterious.

Platon was a fairly common name (31 instances are known from Athens alone), but the name does not occur in Plato's known family line.

The sources of Diogenes Laertius account for this by claiming his wrestling coach, Ariston of Argos, dubbed him "broad" on account of his chest and shoulders, or that Plato derived his name from the breadth of his eloquence, or his wide forehead.

While recalling a moral lesson about frugal living Seneca mentions the meaning of Plato's name: "His very name was given him because of his broad chest."

According to Diogenes Laertius, his birth name was Aristocles (Ἀριστοκλῆς), meaning 'best reputation'.

Plato, whose actual name was Aristocles, was born in Athens or Aegina, between 428 and 423 BC. He was a member of an aristocratic and influential family.

His father was Ariston, who may have been descendant of two kingsCodrus and Melanthus.

His mother was Perictione, descendant of Solon, a statesman credited with laying the foundations of Athenian democracy.

Plato had two brothers, Glaucon and Adeimantus, a sister, Potone, and a half brother, Antiphon.

Plato may have travelled to Italy, Sicily, Egypt, and Cyrene.

At 40, he founded a school of philosophy, the Academy.

It was located in Athens, on a plot of land in the Grove of Hecademus or Academus, named after an Attic hero in Greek mythology.

The Academy operated until it was destroyed by Sulla in 84 BC. Many philosophers studied at the Academy, the most prominent being Aristotle.

According to Diogenes Laertius, throughout his later life, Plato became entangled with the politics of the city of Syracuse, where he attempted to replace the tyrant Dionysius, with Dionysius's brother-in-law, Dion of Syracuse, whom Plato had recruited as one of his followers, but the tyrant himself turned against Plato.

Plato almost faced death, but was sold into slavery.

Anniceris, a Cyrenaic philosopher, bought Plato's freedom for twenty minas, and sent him home.

After Dionysius's death, according to Plato's Seventh Letter, Dion requested Plato return to Syracuse to tutor Dionysius II, who seemed to accept Plato's teachings, but eventually became suspicious of their motives, expelling Dion and holding Plato against his will.

Eventually Plato left Syracuse and Dion would return to overthrow Dionysius and rule Syracuse, before being usurped by Callippus, a fellow disciple of Plato.

A variety of sources have given accounts of Plato's death.

One story, based on a mutilated manuscript, suggests Plato died in his bed, whilst a young Thracian girl played the flute to him.

Another tradition suggests Plato died at a wedding feast.

The account is based on Diogenes Laertius's reference to an account by Hermippus, a third-century Alexandrian.

According to Tertullian, Plato simply died in his sleep.

Plato never speaks in his own voice in his dialogues; every dialogue except the Laws features Socrates, although many dialogues, including the Timaeus and Statesman, feature him speaking only rarely.

Leo Strauss notes that Socrates' reputation for irony casts doubt on whether Plato's Socrates is expressing sincere beliefs.

Xenophon's Memorabilia and Aristophanes's The Clouds seem to present a somewhat different portrait of Socrates from the one Plato paints.

Aristotle attributes a different doctrine with respect to Forms to Plato and Socrates.