What You Should Know About the Philosopher Plato

Plato was originally named Aristocles (not to be confused with Aristotle). Plato was born in Athens around May 21 in 428 or 427 B.C.

Plato was a student and follower of Socrates. It is through Plato that we are most familiar with Socrates' philosophy. Plato wrote dialogues in which his teacher took part, usually asking leading questions - known as the Socratic method.

In the Middle Ages, Plato was known through Latin translations of Arabic translations. In the Renaissance - when Greek became more familiar - far more scholars studied Plato. Plato had an impact on math, science, morals, and political theory.

Plato may have founded an institution known as the Academy, from which we get the word academic. When Plato died, the leadership of the Academy passed to his nephew Speusippus. The Academy continued for several centuries.

Many consider Plato as the most important philosopher who ever lived. He is known as the father of idealism. His ideas were elitist, with the philosopher king the ideal ruler.

• Apology is Plato's version of Socrates trial and Phaedo is his version of the death of Socrates.
• Plato introduced Atlantis in Timaeus and tells the story of Atlantis in Critias.
• Plato's Republic contains a treatise on education, with the parable of cave perhaps the best known to college students.