Plato was born to an aristocratic family in Athens, Greece. When he was a child his father, Ariston, who was believed to be descended from the early kings of Athens died, and his mother, Perictione married Pyrilampes. As a young man Plato was always interested in political leadership and eventually became a disciple of Socrates. He followed his philosophy and his dialectical style, which is believed to be the search for truth through questions, answers, and additional questions. After witnessing the death of Socrates at the hands of the Athenian emocracy in 399 B. C. , Plato left Athens and continued to travel to Italy, Sicily, and Egypt. (Internet)
In 387 B. C. Plato founded the Academy in Athens otherwise known as the first European university. The Academy provided a wide range of curriculum including subjects such as astronomy, biology, philosophy, political theory, and mathematics. Aristotle was the Academy’s most outstanding student. (Internet) The internal affairs of the academy ruled the next 20 years of Plato’s life and he wrote nothing. Many Greek youths were attracted to the new school.
Plato then went to Syracuse to supervise the education of the ruling prince. Plato was not certain about the success of this adventure although he felt he could not refuse this opportunity of putting his ideas to a test. It did not work out for Plato and he returned to Athens in 360 B. C. He then devoted himself to teaching and lecturing at the Academy. He died at age 80 in Athens in 348 B. C. Before his death Plato completed the Sophist, the Politicus, the Philebus, the Timaeus and finally the Laws. (Internet)
