PLATO

427-347 BCE
It is widely accepted that Plato, the Athenian philosopher, was born in 428-7 B.C.E and died at
the age of eighty or eighty-one at 348-7 B.C.E. all in the duration of Athens, Greece. Due to a lack of
primary sources from the time period, much of Plato's life has been constructed by scholars through his
writings and the writings of contemporaries and classical historians. Both of his parents came from the
Greek aristocracy. Plato's father, Ariston, descended from the kings of Athens and Messenia. His mother,
Perictione, is said to be related to the 6th century B.C.E. Greek statesman Solon.
Plato's actual given name was apparently Aristocles, after his grandfather. "Plato" seems to have
started as a nickname (for platos, or "broad"), perhaps first given to him by his wrestling teacher for his
physique, or for the breadth of his style, or even the breadth of his forehead.
During Platos childhood, he was probably taught by some of Athens' finest educators. The
curriculum would have featured the doctrines of Cratylus and Pythagoras as well as Parmenides. As a
young man, Plato experienced two major events that set his course in life. One was meeting the great
Greek philosopher Socrates in which his methods of dialogue and debate impressed Plato so much that he
soon he became a close associate and dedicated his life to the question of virtue and the formation of a
noble character. The other significant event was the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta, in
which Plato served for a brief time between 409 and 404 B.C.E.
Plato began his career as a writer of tragedies, but as he heard Socrates talk, he wholly abandoned
that path and hoped to enter in a dramatic competition. Plato was always concerned with the fundamental
philosophical problem of working out a theory of the art of living and knowing. Like Socrates, Plato
began convinced of the ultimately harmonious structure of the universe, but he went further than his
mentor in trying to construct a comprehensive philosophical scheme. His goal was to show the rational
relationship between the soul, the state, and the cosmos. This is the general theme of the great dialogues
of his middle years: the Republic, Phaedo, Symposium, Phaedrus, Timaeus, and Philebus.
His work covered a broad spectrum of interests and ideas: mathematics, science and nature,
morals and political theory. His beliefs on the importance of mathematics in education have proven to be
essential for understanding the entire universe. His work on the use of reason to develop a more fair and
just society that is focused on the equality of individuals established the foundation for modern
democracy.
When Socrates died, Plato left Athens, staying first in Megara, but then going on to several other places,
including perhaps Cyrene, Italy, Sicily, and even Egypt. Better evidence may be found for his visits to
Italy and Sicily, especially in the Seventh Letter. In any event, Plato returned to Athens and founded a
school, known as the Academy. Plato's final years were spent at the Academy and with his writing.
Thinking: the talking of the soul with itself.
Sources:
http://www.biography.com/people/plato-9442588#final-years
http://www.iep.utm.edu/plato/#SH1