Ancient Greek Plato Philosopher

Plato was a classical Greek philosopher, mathematician and most importantly a student of Socrates. Plato, along with his mentor Socrates and Aristotle laid the foundation of Western philosophy and science. The name Plato is derived from the word Platon implying broad. This was mainly due because Plato had an extremely robust physic along with a broad forehead.

The exact place and time of Platos birth is not known. However, few of the believed that he was born in Athens or Aegina between 429 to423 BC. One thing which can be stated with some certainty is that he was born in an influential, aristocratic family. His fathers name was Ariston while his mothers name was Perictione.

Plato had two more brothers and one sister Adeimantus, Glaucon and Potone respectively. During Platos childhood his father expired and his mother remarried Pyrilampes who was her mothers brother.

As a student, Plato was extremely sharp and modest. His youth was characterised by hard work, dedication involving a lot of study. It is believed that Plato was instructed in various diverse disciplines like grammar, music, and gymnastics under the guidance of some of the most distinguished teachers of his time.

Prior to meeting his mentor Socrates, Plato also took a course in philosophy in which he acquainted himself with the teachings of Cratylus who was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher. Platos relationship with his mentor Socrates has always been the topic of research for numerous scholars. However, Plato, himself has in his book Apology of Socrates made it amply clear that he was Socrates most devoted young follower.

Plato is said to have travelled extensively all over the world. He is said to have travelled to Italy, Egypt, Sicily and Cyrene. He returned back home to Athens only when he was 40 years old.

He also established one of the earliest known organized schools. He named this school as Academus. This school functioned till about 529 AD when it was finally closed by Justinian of Byzantium as he felt that the school posed a threat to Christianity. However, this school boasts of the birth of several intellectuals, most prominent among them being Aristotle.

Platos life got very much entangled in the politics of the city of Syracuse. In the first visit to Syracuse which was under the rule of Dionysus. At that time, Plato was taken as a slave and almost faced death in Cyrene which was fighting against his native city of Athens. It was only after a person who claimed to be Platos admirer rescued and sent him back home to Athens.

Plato has indeed contributed massively to the growth of Western Philosophy. In his theory of Forms, Plato has expressed some of Socrates beliefs which he has penned down by way of his dialogues which imply that the material world is not the real world but is merely a copy or image of the real world.

In his Platonic Epistemology, Plato has tried to differentiate between belief and knowledge on the grounds of justification. According to Plato, knowledge is justified true belief. It was this point which sowed the seeds for the future development of modern epistemology.

Lastly, Plato has also expressed his views of what constitutes an ideal state though there are certain discrepancies found in his earlier and latter views. In this theory, he has divided the society into three categories and then compared each with the three parts of a human body.

Platos works have been published in several fashions which have led to organising of numerous conventions with a view of naming and referencing Platos texts. Plato is very rightly counted as one of the major contributors to the ancient Greek philosophy.

Platos dialogues have also created a stir, some of them being: Our object in the construction of state is the greatest happiness of the whole and not that of anyone class. And I do to others as I would they should do to me.

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