Guide Note:
Plato was a Greek philosopher who is often considered the father of the western philosophical tradition. He was a student of Socrates, and a teacher of Aristotle. It is believed that Plato began writing his Dialogues soon after the death of Socrates. It is through these writings that we get our knowledge of Socrates and his philosophy, as Socrates himself did no writing. Perhaps Plato's best known work is Politeia, better known to us as The Republic. In The Republic, Plato expounds upon the virtues of justice, wisdom, courage, and moderation for both individuals and society. He details a specific plan for his ideal state, in which only philosophers would be eligible to rule. He had a wide range of interests; in addition to philosophy, he studied science, mathematics, and poetry. Plato's works and thoughts continue to influence society more than 2,000 years after his death.
Fast Facts:
- Real Name: Aristocles
- Nickname: Platon, meaning "broad"
- Born: Approximately 427 BC
- Birthplace: Assumed to be Athens, Greece
- Parents were reportedly wealthy aristocrats, friendly with Pericles
- May have had two brothers and a sister
- Participated in Greek military service as a teenager
- Never married
- No known children
Quotes:
- Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.”
- “Love is a serious mental disease.”
- “People are like dirt. They can either nourish you and help you grow as a person or they can stunt your growth and make you wilt and die.”
- “He who commits injustice is ever made more wretched than he who suffers it”
- “It is only the dead who have seen the end of war”
- “There are two things a person should never be angry at, what they can help, and what they cannot.”
- "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
- "Democracy... is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder; and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequals alike."
