Plato's Life, Philosophy, and Impact

Plato: Life and Times

Plato was born around 428/427 BC and died in 347 BC in Athens. He was educated in the Spartan model. A disciple of Socrates, he witnessed his death. With the intention of combining philosophy and its application to policy, he left Athens and traveled to Egypt, where he assimilated mathematics. He also traveled to Megara and Syracuse, where he met Dion, who became his student. He founded the Academy in Athens, where he spent his last years, teaching music, mathematics, and the possibility of attaining absolute truth.

Political Vocation

Plato began searching for the ideal government because democracy was triumphant. Socrates' philosophical idealism clashed with the authorities, causing his unjust death. This drove Plato to pursue a plan for human formation (paideia), inspired by Socrates' philosophical ideal. The content of that ideal is based on the dialectic, its goal being the ideal republic, headed by justice through the government of the philosopher. Only in a just society can the individual pursue happiness; morality is inseparable from the state.

The Dialogic Structure of Plato's Work

For Plato, writing is not wisdom but a mere appearance of wisdom; a letter cannot defend against charges or explain itself. Written discourse alone has the courage to aid memory. Only the dialogue reproduces the shape and effectiveness of speech. Plato argues that thought itself is merely a discourse, a dialogue of the soul with itself. Written expression must equal dialogue. Dialogue is the only way to express questions and answers. The Socratic method has two distinct moments: the irony (acceptance of the contrary view, "I know nothing") and the maieutics (progressive conviction that modifies the opponent's initial thinking).

Current Philosophical Perspective

Plato's philosophy is idealistic, maintaining that reality is purely formal and therefore devalues the senses. He states that apart from sensible reality, there is another external reality, the world of Ideas. He therefore rejects the rationalist view of the senses as a source of knowledge; the only way to know is through the intellect.

Works: Steps in His Thought

Plato's works include 36 dialogues.

• Youth or Socratic Thought: This period reflects the thought of his teacher, Socrates. Key works include "The Apology of Socrates", "Pythagoras", "Euthyphro", and "Lysis".
• Transition Period: This period shows greater independence from his master. Works include "Gorgias", "Meno", and "Cratylus" (Socrates and Plato struggle against the sophists).