Plato: The Life Of Plato As A Greek Philosopher

Plato (427-347 BC) a Greek philosopher was born in Athens. He is a philosopher, politicians, mathematicians, poet and reformers. He is one of the most creative and influential thinkers in political philosophy. He is one of the important disciples Socrates. Socrates never wrote down anything, books etc. It is Plato who wrote down the dialogue of Socrates. Plato was from Solon family (LAW GIVER) and he was born in aristocracy. The name of his father was Ariston. His mother Perictione, was a descendant of Solon (640-559), the famous lawgiver of Athens. Plato’s real name was Aristocles, which meant the “best and renowned’. He is given the nick name “Plato”, derived from platys, because of his broad and strong shoulders. He was known for his good …show more content…
Since then is under the “hypnotic spell” of Socrates. He was tremendously under the influences of his master that leaving behind what he thought of becoming and become a philosopher. Plato’s subtle soul had found a new joy in the dialectic game of Socrates. The last discussion of Socrates was held immortalized in Crito. Plato could not attend the discussion because of some illness. In 399 BC when he was twenty-eight years old it was a turning point in his life. In that his master was put on trial before the Athenian courts on charge of disbelieving in the gods of the city. Introducing new deities and of corrupting the youth. He refused to compromise and was condemned to death. He accepted the sentence with great calmness. It should be noted that Socrates was not the only one to be executed. There were others too. Both Anaxagoras (500-432 BC) and Protagoras (481-411 BC) were banished from Athens. Plato was profoundly shocked with the death of his …show more content…
From Megara he went to Egypt to study mathematics and the historical tradition of the Priests. He returned to Athens in 395 BC after twelve years and fought for the city of Corinth. In 387 BC he visited the Pythagorean philosopher, mathematician and political leader Archytas at Taras in the south Italy. Returning to Athens in 386 BC Plato’s gifted him a recreation spot named after its local hero Academus or Hecademus. It was here that he established his Academy, which becomes a higher learning and intellectual pursuits in Greece for the next hundred years. It was the first ever western university in 387 BC. From then onward his life was devoted to reflection, literary publications and travel. He travelled around the world in different countries like Italy, Africa, Sicily, Persia