Top 12 Contributions of Plato
- Established the First University in Europe. In 399 BC, after Socrates was condemned to death, Plato left Athens. ...
- Insight into the Philosophical Teachings of Socrates. Socrates is credited as being one of the founders of Western philosophy. ...
- The Theory of Forms. ...
- Epistemology or Theory of Knowledge. ...
- Division of Labor. ...
- Politics. ...
- Platonic Love. ...
What are the contribution of Plato in education?
Plato sees education as a means of attaining individual and collective justice. Plato groups knowledge development into three stages – Knowledge of one's own job, self-knowledge and knowledge of the Idea of the Good. Plato believes that education should be state controlled.
What is the contribution of Plato in sociology?
Plato could be said to be the first exponent of the organic theory in society and Aristotle subscribed to it too. Thus they accepted society as a unified system structured around division of labor and social inequality. They saw society in holistic terms and gave state the dominant role.
What is contribution of Aristotle?
He made pioneering contributions to all fields of philosophy and science, he invented the field of formal logic, and he identified the various scientific disciplines and explored their relationships to each other. Aristotle was also a teacher and founded his own school in Athens, known as the Lyceum.
What was Plato contribution to psychology?
Plato proposed that the human psyche was the seat of all knowledge and that the human mind was imprinted with all of the knowledge it needed. As a result, learning was a matter of unlocking and utilizing this inbuilt knowledge, a process he called anamnesis.
What is the contribution of Socrates?
Socrates of Athens (l. c. 470/469-399 BCE) is among the most famous figures in world history for his contributions to the development of ancient Greek philosophy which provided the foundation for all of Western Philosophy. He is, in fact, known as the "Father of Western Philosophy" for this reason.
Who is Confucius and his contribution?
Confucius is known as the first teacher in China who wanted to make education broadly available and who was instrumental in establishing the art of teaching as a vocation. He also established ethical, moral, and social standards that formed the basis of a way of life known as Confucianism.
What did Plato discover?
He found that there are only five solid shapes whose sides are made from regular polygons (triangles, squares, pentagons, hexagons, etc) - for example, the cube. Plato was so impressed with this discovery that he was convinced that atoms of matter must derive from these five fundamental solids.
What is the contribution of Democritus?
Democritus was a central figure in the development of the atomic theory of the universe. He theorized that all material bodies are made up of indivisibly small “atoms.” Aristotle famously rejected atomism in On Generation and Corruption.
What was Plato's most famous work?
Middle Period – most famous works attributed to Plato were written during this time, including the Republic, the Symposium and Phaedo. Plato continues to use his dialogues to explore philosophical concepts such as government, love and the soul.
What did Plato believe about knowledge?
Plato believed that true knowledge may only be derived from world of ideal and timeless forms. As an example in his Socratic dialogue Meno, a boy is able to find mathematical truths without observation of the world, arriving at the truth by being asked questions and considering the answers. Plato claims it as an example of recollection with the ultimate truths in a past life or knowledge by contemplation rather than observation. He argues that knowledge is inherently present in a person’s soul and is shrouded by their perception of reality.
What are Plato's dialogues?
Plato’s Dialogues. Scholars typically organize Plato’s works into three different eras:-. Early period – writings attributed to him in this period include Apology of Socrates, Euthyphro, Hippias Major and Minor, and Ion. The fictional character of Socrates in the dialogues is an integral part of this period.
What is the most famous Socratic dialogue?
The most famous of the Socratic Dialogues is the Apology in which the character of Socrates defends his beliefs against the charges of the Athenian court. Although other sources portray a different Socrates, Plato’s “dialogues” are a vital source for understanding Socrates. Statue of Socrates at the Academy of Athens.
What is the most famous dialogue in Plato?
The most famous of the Socratic Dialogues is the Apology in which the character of Socrates defends his beliefs ...
Where was Plato born?
It is estimated that Plato was born in Athens, Greece around the year 428 in fifth century BCE. Born in a rich and affluent Athenian family Plato desired to become a politician but as he grew older he was repulsed by Athenian dictators and drawn towards Socratic thought. This ultimately led to him becoming a disciple of Socrates. Along with his teacher Socrates and his most famous pupil Aristotle, Plato is counted among the pivotal influences that shaped the Western Philosophical tradition and thought. Know more about the influence of Plato on philosophy through his 10 major contributions. There have been many controversies regarding the authenticity of Plato’s work and as with anything else, information must always be accepted with a skeptical and open mind.
What are the forms of Plato's work?
Forms are used throughout the work of Plato to explain concepts of knowledge, justice and many others. In his work Republic, Plato is said to have demonstrated this concept of the Forms in an illustration called The Allegory of the Cave. Diagram explaining Plato’s Allegory of the Cave.
What did Plato want to do?
Born into an aristocratic family, Plato always wanted to join politics. Somehow, he was introduced to Socrates and soon became a disciple. His works include Apology, a purportedly imaginative and satirical version of his defense trial. Others include the Republic and the Statesman and the Laws, which are the cornerstones of political philosophy.
What is Plato's theme in his treatise Symposium?
Plato, in his ancient treatise, Symposium, concerned with love and its dissection by at least six wise men. The setting where the dialectics take place is a dinner party, where everyone shares their account of this universal principle of love that undergirds all human activities.
How many books did Plato write?
Besides that, Plato has authored at least 24 books, all of which mostly depict Socrates conversing with various other characters. His dialogues are in the form of a dialectic, deductive and ingenious thoughts.
What is the general characterization of European philosophical tradition?
Alfred North Whitehead has quipped that the general characterization of European philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato. In a way, he has surmised that the philosophical drafts that followed after Plato is a tiny fraction, analogous to a footnote, in comparison to his works.
Did Plato lay down his philosophy?
One might not know if through Socrates, Plato lays down his philosophies or they’re originally the teachings of Socrates. It is a fundamental problem in philosophy which scholars regard as the Socratic Problem. Regardless, Plato heralds as the preserver of this potent specimen and his teachings.
Did Socrates and Plato become the same person?
Plato writes in such a manner that he and Socrates become almost the same person. One might not know if through Socrates, Plato lays down his philosophies or they’re originally the teachings of Socrates. It is a fundamental problem in philosophy which scholars regard as the Socratic Problem.
What were Plato's most famous works?
Plato's most famous works were written during this time, including the Republic, the Symposium, and Phaedo.
What is Plato's philosophy?
Instead, the student of Plato's philosophy is encouraged to approach a topic in many different ways and repeatedly question the result . He would often revisit his own central ideas and provide more ways to examine and rethink the given topic. Let's look at some of the major ideas put forth by his dialogues.
What was Plato's life like?
Plato's Life and Accomplishments. Plato was a philosopher who was born in Greece somewhere around 428 BCE to a family of the political and social elite. Since Plato was somewhat associated with this group, he had the opportunity to study many different subjects from many different teachers until he famously became a disciple of Socrates.
What style of writing did Plato use?
Plato wrote predominantly in the style of dialogues. The characters in his writings debate a particular subject and examine it from multiple perspectives. Scholars typically organize Plato's works into three different eras: early, middle, and late.
What did Plato believe about the Academy?
Plato believed that this system would lead to social progress and a more stable government.
What are Plato's two parts?
Plato believed that reality is divided into two parts: the ideal and the phenomena. The ideal is the perfect reality of existence.
Which of Plato's earlier works tends to focus on lessons directly inherited from his teacher?
Plato's earlier works tend to focus on lessons directly inherited from his teacher. In fact, Socrates is usually the main character and the subjects usually center on Socrates' lessons. The most famous of the Socratic Dialogues is the Apology in which the character of Socrates defends his beliefs against the charges of the Athenian court.
What were Plato's contributions to philosophy?
Some Contributions of Plato Most important to philosophy were the theory of ideas, dialectics, anamnesis or the methodical search of knowledge.
What did Plato do through his works?
Through his works, Plato not only managed to provide one of the Socratic portraits and descriptions most referenced to the present day; But also allowed us to glimpse their questions and their idealistic and dualist position in front of the world; Also discussed and reflected on the political and legal structures of the time. ...
What did Plato do before Socrates?
Like Socrates before him, Plato laid the foundations of philosophy, politics and the Western sciences. He was considered one of the first to conceive and exploit the full potential of philosophy as practice, analyzing issues from ethical, political, epistemological and metaphysical points of view.
What is Plato's theory of ideas?
Theory of ideas. Plato denied the absolute reality of the world we inhabit; Therefore most of his contributions are based on the theory of ideas. Plato stated that every word denomination of something did not refer specifically to that, but to its ideal version. It was man's duty, through knowledge, to approach the ideal state ...
How did Plato shape his thoughts?
Plato shaped his thoughts in the form of dialogues, using dramatic elements that facilitated the reading and comprehension of his ideas, recreating and exemplifying with enough effectiveness the situations dealt with.
What is the capacity of the soul to remember previous experiences and knowledge that are forgotten by leaving the body and entering another?
Plato introduced anamnesis (a term also applied in the health sciences) in philosophy as the capacity of the soul to remember previous experiences and knowledge that are forgotten by leaving the body and entering another. For Plato, knowledge are memories that the soul has acquired in previous stages, and which must be awakened in each man ...
What is knowledge in Plato's theory?
For Plato, knowledge are memories that the soul has acquired in previous stages, and which must be awakened in each man for easy access. This form of knowledge would represent an approach to the ideal form of each existing element.
What are Plato's most important contributions?
Plato's most well-known contributions center around his dialogues, 36 in total, which were writings on various topics and concepts. In the dialogues, Plato would pose a topic or question, and then analyze and attack that topic from multiple angles and viewpoints. He used this method in order to better understand the truth about a concept, usually arriving at no concrete answer, but allowing the reader to consider and question the arguments presented. Plato's dialogues often featured his once teacher Socrates as a main character; it is believed that Socrates, and the "Socratic method" of questioning helped inspire Plato's dialogues.
What did Plato do?
The young Plato was interested in poetry, writing, the arts, and philosophy. At one point, Plato planned to pursue a career in theater and playwrighting; this all changed one day, when he overhead Socrates speak in a marketplace. Plato was so moved by Socrates' words that he almost immediately became a student and disciple of his. Not long after, Socrates was charged with failure to observe the Greek pantheon (deities) and corruption of the youth. As a result, Socrates was executed via poison in 399 B.C.; Plato was allegedly one of the youths corrupted. Plato was grief-stricken by the death of his teacher and went on to write and speak of Socrates throughout his life.
What are Plato's beliefs?
Beliefs on ethics - questioned the nature of goodness, truth, and justice. Plato believed well-being, happiness, high-virtue, and right moral action the epitome of ethical practice and life.
Where was Plato born?
Plato was born in Athens, Greece in the year 428 B.C. towards the end of what is known as the Golden Age of Pericles Athens. Having been born into a socially elite family, with noble Athenian blood from both parents, Plato was allowed pursuit of various opportunities. Aristocles was the real birthname of Plato, as the latter was first given as just a nickname. "Plato" is thought to have come from the young Aristocles' wrestling coach due to his broad shoulders; "platon" is Greek for "broad." Plato was raised during the Peloponnesian War of 432-404 B.C. and lived through the political upheaval in Athens after the Athenians' final loss to the state of Sparta; Plato served in the war effort for a time during his youth. Athens' period of democracy ended, following the defeat by Sparta, to be replaced by an oligarchical-style government. In years to follow, Athenians would overthrow the oligarchy to restore a democratic style government.
What is Socrates' method?
Socrates - most known for his "Socratic method" of continual questioning on a topic. Socrates influenced Plato's dialogues, as they reflect a similar method of questioning and arguing a concept or topic from all angles. Socrates appears as a central figure in most of Plato's written works.
Where did Plato travel?
Following the death of Socrates, Plato adventured for about 12 years throughout Southern Italy and North Africa. During his travels, he met and learned from many other teachers, philosophers, and mathematicians, and further developed his own ideas about reality and the universe. Around the age of 40, Plato went back to Athens and opened an educational center called The Academy just outside of the city. At The Academy, men were offered the opportunity to take various courses of interest from a wide range of teachers. Plato believed education would provoke increased social progress among the population and ultimately lead to more effective government rule. Plato's Academy is considered by many to have been the first university in the western world, or beyond. The Academy continued as an institution about three additional centuries after Plato's death in 347 B.C.
What are the three parts of Plato's life?
Usually, Plato's work and contributions are broken down into the three main parts of his life- the early, middle, and late eras. These eras are listed below and include main highlights from each.
What is Plato's concept of self?
Plato’s concept of the self involved considering our soul as something eternal and infinite which at the same time progresses and changes according to the world and its variable conditions: it consists both of its essential being (which can be properly called the true “Self”) partaining to what is intrinsic and natural to it, such as the Idea of Good, Justice, Beauty, Wisdom and Love; and an ever-changing part (which is commonly called in spirituality and psychology the “ego”), with its mutable noumena related to the senseperceptions, emotions, memory etc.
Why is Plato's explanation of the human self impossible?
Like anybody else, Plato was also confused in explaining the human ‘Self’. Explaining the intellectual self is impossible because it is a mystery.
What is Plato's allegory of the cave?
Plato’s Allegory of the Cave helps point toward a certain idealism. I suppose it contains the seeds of imperfection—-in terms of the real (aka it contrasts the Ideal and the Real).
