Plato (c. 427-347 BCE) was a famous Greek philosopher and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. He was born in Athens to an aristocratic family and was greatly influenced by his teacher Socrates. Plato authored many dialogues, most featuring Socrates, that explored topics like ethics, politics and metaphysics. Some of his most influential theories included the Theory of Forms which argued that the material world is just a shadow of the ideal world of forms, and that true knowledge comes from rational thought rather than the senses. Plato had a profound impact on Western philosophy and science through his dialogues and the founding of the Academy.

1. Plato (d. 347 B.C.E.)
Max Willman

2. General
- Philosopher in Classical
Greece
- Founder of the Academy of
Athens, the first institution of
higher learning in the Western
World
- Most pivotal figure in the
development of philosophy
- Laid the foundation for
Western philosophy and
science
- Student of Socrates and the
teacher of Aristotle

3. Biography
- Little is known about Plato’s early life and
education due to the lack of surviving
accounts
- The exact dates of birth are unknown but
it is known that he belonged to an
aristocratic and influential family
- Believed to be born in Athens or Aegina
between 429 and 423 BCE.
- Came from one of the wealthiest and
politically active families
- Father: Ariston, decent from the King of
Athens, Codrus
- Mother: Perictione

4. Influences
- Primarily influenced by Socrates, to the
extent that Socrates is usually the main
character in many of Plato’s writings
- Also influenced by Heraclitus, Parmenides,
and Pythagoras
- Heraclitus: had some early association with
Heraclitus or of his followers
- Parmenides: strongly influenced by
Parmenides in Plato’s theory of the Forms
- Pythagoras: influences seem evident in his
fascination with mathematics, and in some
of his politics ideals
- Socrates: no influence was greater than that
of Socrates
- Clockwise from top left: Heraclitus,
Parmenides, Pythagoras, Socrates

5. Philosophy
- Often discusses the father-son
relationship and the question of whether
a father’s interest in his sons has much to
with how well his sons turns out
- Several of Plato’s dialogues, Socrates
publicizes the idea that knowledge is a
matter of recollection, and not of
learning, observation, or study
- Theory of Forms
- Refers to the beliefs that the material
world as it seems to us is not the real
world, but only an “image” or “copy” of
the real world
- Metaphysics
- “Platonism” refers to the intellectual
consequences of denying the reality of
the material world

6. Dialogues
- 35 dialogues and 13 letters have been
ascribed to Plato, however, some doubt
the authenticity of at least a few of them
- His works can usually be grouped into
Early, Middle, and Late period
- Early: Apology (of Socrates), Charmides,
Crito, Euthyphro, Gorgias, (lesser) Hippias
(minor), (Greater) Hippias (major), Ion,
Lches, Lysis, Protagoras
- Middle: Cratylus, Menexenus, Meno,
Parmenides, Phaedo, Phaedrus, Republic,
Symposium, Euthydemus
- Middle/Late: Theaetetus
- Late: Critias, Sophist, Statesman /
Politicus, Timaeus, Philebus, Laws

7. Quotes
- Wise men talk because they have something
to say; fools, because they have to say
something.
- We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of
the dark; the real tragedy of life is when
men are afraid of the light.
- Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a
hard battle.
- Courage is knowing what not to fear.
- Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the
universe, wings to the mind, flight to the
imagination, and charm and gaiety to life
and to everything.
- The beginning is the most important part of
the work.

8. Works Cited
- http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/plato
- http://www.iep.utm.edu/plato/#H3
- http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/p/plato.html