Plato's Philosophy and Political Thought
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Plato's Life, Thought, and Influence
Introduction
Plato, a prominent Greek philosopher of the 4th century BC, belonged to the Idealist school of thought. His philosophical objective was inherently political: to cultivate statesmen. Plato's ideas profoundly influenced Christianity and thinkers throughout history, resonating even today with his assertion that the more educated individuals are, the further they will be from detrimental political practices.
Historical and Biographical Context
During the century between Plato's birth and Aristotle's death, the territory of Greece encompassed modern-day Greece, the Aegean Islands, and coastal regions of Asia Minor. This period marked a cultural zenith in Athens, with a flourishing of arts, literature, and philosophy. Notable figures like Phidias, Myron, Polykleitos, Sophocles, Anaxagoras, and Socrates emerged. The Parthenon and other significant monuments were constructed.
From a political perspective, Pericles introduced legislative reforms that curtailed the powers of the aristocratic council in favor of the Assembly, where all citizens could participate, leading to revolts. Athens's development provoked hostility with Sparta, triggering the 30-year Peloponnesian War. These events, coupled with Socrates's death, disillusioned Plato with politics, leading him to develop the theory of the philosopher-king.
Plato's Life and the Academy
Plato was born in Athens in 428 BC into an aristocratic family whose members participated in the Peloponnesian War. He was a disciple of Socrates, maintaining a close friendship until the latter's death in 399 BC. This event transformed Plato into a critic of democracy. He journeyed through southern Italy, encountering the Pythagorean school and unsuccessfully attempting to implement his political ideas.
Upon returning to Athens, Plato founded the Academy, considered Europe's first university. It taught mathematics and philosophy to cultivate statesmen—politicians and rulers. Socrates is the central figure in most of Plato's dialogues, which address fundamental problems of Plato's thought, such as his conception of humanity, society, and his theory of knowledge.
Plato's Works and Legacy
Plato's written works, primarily in dialogue form, can be categorized into four stages: his youth, marked by works like Apology of Socrates and Protagoras; a transitional phase with Gorgias and Meno; a mature period featuring The Republic and Symposium; and finally, his later years with Parmenides and Laws.
Plato died in 347 BC at the age of 80, leaving behind a legacy that continues to shape philosophical and political thought to this day.