KNTV PHILOSOPHY

PLATO

BACKGROUND

Plato was born into a distinguished family of aristocrats. Not much is known about his younger life, but he was profoundly influenced by Socrates and wrote about his trial and death. He travelled widely before founding the Academy and presiding over it for the rest of his life. It became a renowned centre for philosophical, mathematical and scientific research. One of Plato's pupils was Aristotle, who became another highly influential philosopher.

Dialectic

In his books, as well as in his teaching, Plato preferred to use the dialectic, a way of examining ideas in the form of a conversation or argument, in which each issue is looked at from different angles and alternative ideas are evaluated by question and reason.

Plato's The Republic

Plato's writings consisted mainly of a series of philosophical dialogues, many of them featuring Socrates, although it is not always clear how many of the views expressed belong to Socrates and how many to Plato. The Republic begins with the question, 'What is justice?', and describes a perfect government, the first political utopia, ruled by highly-educated philosopher kings who could be either men or women. The state is based on an inflexible class structure of rulers, warriors and workers, and embraces the idea of communism of property and family. These ideas have sparked endless discussion down the centuries, and have had a deep effect on political ideas in Europe.

Influences

Socrates (470-399BC)

Although Socrates produced no writings and founded no formal school of thought, he became one of the three great ancient philosophers, along with Plato and Aristotle (384-322BC). Snub-nosed and paunchy, Socrates' thinking moved philosophical ideas away from probing the natural world and the universe, towards the consideration of ethics and conceptual analysis. Socrates always insisted on truth, and as a social and moral critic of the Athenian government, he fell foul of the rulers, was accused of corrupting the minds of the youth of Athens with his ideas, and was sentenced to death.

Timeline

427BC Plato, originally named Aristocles, is born in 428 or 427, probably in Athens, into an aristocratic family descended from the early king Codrus.

404 He attempts to enter politics after Athens is defeated in the Peloponnesian War.

403 Plato makes another attempt to enter politics after the restoration of democracy, but becomes disillusioned and decides to devote his time to philosophy.

407 Plato associates with Socrates.

399 Socrates is sentenced to death and publicly poisoned. Plato later wrote about Socrates' trial, his last days and death, but may not have been present at his execution.

398-386 Plato flees to Megara, and then probably travels in Greece, Egypt, Italy and Sicily.

387 He returns to Athens and founds the Academy on a plot of land dedicated to the hero Academus.

360 He writes The Republic around this time.

347 Plato dies, aged 80. He never married and had no children. His nephew Speusippus becomes head of the Academy and Aristotle leaves Athens.