Plato, the great philosopher of Athens, was born in 427 BCE. In
early manhood an admirer of Socrates, he later founded the famous
school of philosophy in the grove Academus. Much else recorded of
his life is uncertain; that he left Athens for a time after
Socrates' execution is probable; that later he went to Cyrene,
Egypt, and Sicily is possible; that he was wealthy is likely; that
he was critical of 'advanced' democracy is obvious. He lived to be
80 years old. Linguistic tests including those of computer science
still try to establish the order of his extant philosophical
dialogues, written in splendid prose and revealing Socrates' mind
fused with Plato's thought.
In "Laches, Charmides," and "Lysis," Socrates and others discuss
separate ethical conceptions. "Protagoras, Ion," and "Meno" discuss
whether righteousness can be taught. In "Gorgias," Socrates is
estranged from his city's thought, and his fate is impending. The
"Apology" (not a dialogue), "Crito, Euthyphro," and the
unforgettable "Phaedo" relate the trial and death of Socrates and
propound the immortality of the soul. In the famous "Symposium" and
"Phaedrus," written when Socrates was still alive, we find the
origin and meaning of love. "Cratylus" discusses the nature of
language. The great masterpiece in ten books, the "Republic,"
concerns righteousness (and involves education, equality of the
sexes, the structure of society, and abolition of slavery). Of the
six so-called dialectical dialogues "Euthydemus" deals with
philosophy; metaphysical "Parmenides" is about general concepts and
absolute being; "Theaetetus" reasons about the theory of knowledge.
Of its sequels, "Sophist" deals with not-being; "Politicus"with
good and bad statesmanship and governments; "Philebus" with what is
good. The "Timaeus" seeks the origin of the visible universe out of
abstract geometrical elements. The unfinished "Critias" treats of
lost Atlantis. Unfinished also is Plato's last work of the twelve
books of "Laws" (Socrates is absent from it), a critical discussion
of principles of law which Plato thought the Greeks might
accept.
The Loeb Classical Library edition of Plato is in twelve
volumes.
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