Plato was a Greek philosopher born in Athens who established the Academy, one of the earliest known institutions of higher learning. He believed that education should aim to cultivate beauty, goodness, and truth. Plato proposed a seven stage education system where the curriculum progressively developed the body, character, and intellect. His contributions included being the first to present a theory of education, advocating for state-directed and compulsory education, and arguing for gender equality in education.

1. WESTERN THINKER
PLATO
Asha A M
Roll no. 26
Physical science

2. Life Sketch
■ Plato was born in Athens.
■ Disciple of Socrates for nearly ten years.
■ Socrates death made him go out of Greece and wander in different
countries.
■ Opened a school called “Academy”
■ Academy provided all provisions for the study of all subjects that
would make one good citizen.

3. Main Publications
■ The Republic
■ The Laws
■ Protagoras
■ Symposium
■ The “Republic” gives the readers the most sustained and convincing portrait of
Socrates as a critical and creative philosopher. We shall find his metaphysics, his
theology, his ethics, his psychology, his pedagogy, his theory of art etc. in it.
■ Rousseau said that “it was the greatest work on education ever written”.

4. Plato’sPhilosophy
■ Plato was an idealist. He believed in the world of ideas and not in the world of
objects.
■ The world of ideas was considered as eternal ad unbounded – a world of mind
and abstracion.
EducationalPhilosophy
■ Educationis essential for the harmony and well being of the people.
■ The state is responsible to give the citizens the education they needed.
■ Education should aim at – beauty, goodness and truth.
■ In higher education higher Mathematics, Geometry, Astronomy, Philosophy,
Music and Physical Education were provided.
■ In teaching the subject is presented in an interesting manner.

5. Academy
■ Center of knowledge founded by Plato.
■ The term ‘Academy’ originated from “Academia” (An olive garden in
Athens).
■ The first University of the west.
■ Various science and philosophy were taught in that institution.
■ Those learners who came out of the Academy were called Academists or
Academicians. Aristotle was a student of that institution.

6. Chief methodsof teachingsuggested by
Plato
■ Plato recommended play method at elementary level.
■ Story telling as a method of imparting moral education.
■ At higher levels he adopted dialogical method.
■ Also used ‘Socratic method ’ in teaching which is a question and answer
form of arguing with an ‘expert’ on one side and a ‘searcher’ on the other

7. Specific Rolesof Teachers
■ The teacher should assume the moral responsibility for the character and
conduct of the disciples.
■ Teachers must provide children with miniature tools of different trades.
■ The teacher stands as a proximate exemplar by guiding ad directing the
learner by ruling out false starts and by suggesting better ones.
■ The teacher should encourage the student to redirect and rearrange the
priorities.
■ According to Plato, teacher is like a mid wife and, who assist at the birth of
the idea in the mind of the student.

8. Stage wise curriculumsuggested by
Plato
Plato named three stages of education:
■ Reading and writing
■ Physical education
■ Secondary or literary education

9. Plato’s First Stage of Education. (Up to 7 years)
■ At this stage children should be educated by their mother or nurse in the house. The
adults should tell them good moral tales to have god impressions on their minds. Both
genders are allowed to play together.
Plato’s Second Stage of Education. (7 - 17)
■ Formal education begins. The curriculum for Elementary education has two parts –
“Music” and “Gymnastics”.
■ Gymnastics was for training the mind and Music menat the interpretation of masterpiece
poetries to develop moral and religious values.
■ Sports and games were considered important for their physical and mental development
Plato’s Third Stage of Education. (17 - 20)
■ This is the time for the Physical and mental training. At this stage, children should be
brought to the field of battle. At the age of 20, a test is given and those who fails in it are
assigned to economic works of the state.

10. Plato’s Fourth Stage of Education (20 -30)
■ Higher education begins. After training of mind, body and character a second
time at is given. The failed ones are appointed as the executive, military of the
state. The selected ones were admitted to the study of dialectic.
Plato’s Fifth Stage of Education. (30 - 35)
■ Plato, deliberately, withholds the study of dialectic to this late age. They
continue in the Academy for the higher position in the guardian class.
■ The curriculum of the guardian class consist of mathematics, astronomy and
logic as he believed that these subjects will help them to study Philosophy.
According to Plato this system of education is essential for the ideal state.

11. Plato’s Sixth Stage of Education.(35 – 50)
■ At this stage one is ready to become a ruler or a philosopher. Now he is
ready to return to practical life to take command in war and hold such
offices of state as benefits a young man.
Plato’s Seventh Stage of Education. (After 50 years)
■ Plato suggests that this stage should be dedicated to contemplation of the
good.” They were supposed to make philosophy as their chief pursuit.
They were called upon to participate in politics, and rule for the good of
the people as a matter of their duty.

12. Contributionsof Plato to education
■ Plato was the first man to present a theory of eeducation.
■ Plato suggested and insisteda plan for a compulsory and state directed scheme of
education in The Republic.
■ He attached great importanceto moral training.
■ Plato proposed a sequentialorder of learning different subjects corresponding to the
development of human cognitive abilities.
■ Helped in the phenomenal development of mathematics.
■ Plato was the first educationist who argued for gender equalityin education. He
believedthat there is no difference in the native capacities of girls and boys. So they should
be given same type of education and employment opportunities.
■ He formulatedspecific curriculum for specific humandevelopment.
■ Stages of Plato’s Republic contains higher level of discourses education. It is considered as
the finest treatise on educationever written.