Plato

In 428 B.C. Aristocles (later known as Plato) was born in Athens. He was born on the island of Aegina, which lies just twelve miles off shore from Athens in the Saronic Gulf (Havelock 3). Aristocles was born into a great political family (Friedlander 14). His father being the descendant of Codrus, the last king of Athens, and his mother was descendant from the great Athenian law maker Solon (Friedlander 15). Like most adolescent children his ambitions were far from anything his parents had ever done. Aristocles wanted to be a wrestler. Aristocles attained the name “Plato” from his wrestling experiences (Havelock 4). Twice he carried the wrestling prize at the Isthmian games but seemingly never made it to the Olympics at Olympia. Plato then decided that he might want to be a poet (O’Conner). He failed to go anywhere with this dream also. Having not won an Olympic metal or anything for his poetry Plato thought he was going to simply become a mere statesman. As a last fling he decided to take a go at philosophy (Havelock 4).

For Plato this was love at first sight. Plato began his studies under his “master” also known as Socrates. For nine years Socrates taught Plato through conversational methods also known as “dialectic” method (Friedlander 17). Plato spent all of this time learning about himself. Plato learned his weaknesses, strengths, qualifications, and so forth.

Plato spent many years under the instruction of Socrates yet still had a yearning for politics (Havelock 6). After viewing the behavior of the Athenian Politicians and the way they acted in the prosecution of Socrates, Plato was disgusted and quickly lost the desire to become part of the political world. Plato’s close relationship with Socrates caused the need for Plato to leave Athens. Plato went on to Megara where he stayed with Euclid for three years (Havelock 10). The years directly after Plato had been separated from Socrates he spent most of his time doing works heavily influenced by Socrates. In fact three of Plato’s earliest dialogues, (The Apology, Crito, and Euthyphron), were devoted entirely to the trial, prison days, and the ultimate death of Socrates (Friedlander 13).

Plato traveled to many different philosophers that lived throughout the Greek colonies (O’Conner). One of which had a great impact on Plato’s philosophy and beliefs. Pythagoras’s theory that “numbers held the underst...

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... Plato soon heard that his old friend Dionysus had past away from Dion. Dion felt that this was the perfect opportunity for Plato to return to Sicily and take Dionysius’s place and set up his “utopia”. Plato soon found himself prisoner in Syracuse (O’Conner). Pythagorean from Toranto saved him and returned Plato back to Athens (Havelock 110). Dion was to carry out Plato’s Republic. He did not.

At the young age of eighty-one Plato died and was buried in the Academy. The Academy was closed in 529 A.D. by the Emperor of Justinian (Havelock 123). Many of Plato’s theories have grown with our society and many have since been diminished due to impossibility.

In my opinion Plato’s ideas and philosophies are completely unrealistic and contradicting. His view on love really intrigued me. I don’t like the idea of “platonic love.” I think that it is ridiculous that he would think of such an idea to be so great. I can not comprehend having a marriage without romance or sexual desire. Plato to my understanding really had no feelings or value for emotions. There are many other works and ideas of Plato’s' that I did not touch on in this paper. I could probably proceed for pages and pages.