PLATO'S LIFE
Plato was born around 427 BC into a wealthy Athenian
family. Athens was an important cultural capital, the centre of Greek politics,
culture and thought. It was also a place of considerable magnificence in terms
of both appearance and expenditure. Plato was well educated by Athenian
standards and knew the poetic classics, the works of dramatists, the writings of
the earlier philosophers.
In Athens at this time despite a great increase in
literacy the importance of the spoken word was still recognised. In both the
Assembly and the law court skills of verbal combat were very important. There
were teachers of oratory and debate. The sophist was a person who taught skills
of argument and gave a public display of his skills.
When Plato was 23 Sparta successfully conquered
Athens and Athenians waited in fear to see if Sparta would treat them as they
themselves had treated Sparta in the past. Athenians had willingly wiped out
large sections of the Spartan population in the past. In fact Sparta removed
the Athenian democracy and placed Athens under the rule of 30 men selected for
their anti-democratic beliefs and their pro-Spartan views. Plato and others
welcomed the end of the democracy and looked forward to rule by an imposed
group chosen for their wisdom and commitment to virtue. But as Plato was to
find there was no gain. The thirty ruled through fear, bloodshed, corruption.
During his youth Plato became friendly with
Socrates
who is perhaps one of the most well remembered figures from the ancient world.
He was to use the figure of Socrates in many of his writings. Plato became
known as a philosopher and established an academy. This was not a school or
place of learning in our conventional sense. Attendance was voluntary,
lectures were given and the greater part of time was given over to writing and
debate. The academy while informal was funded by the state and by private
donation. Plato was to live and work at his academy, revered as the successor
to Socrates. He was to publish extensively and to be known as the most
important philosopher of his day. On a number of occasions Plato travelled and
visited Syracuse on political business. In 367 BC
Aristotle
came to join the academy. He was 19 at the time and was to remain there until
Plato died twenty years later. Plato died in 347 BC renowned for his qualities
of friendship and thinking. His most enduring texts are described briefly in
other pages.