Plato

Plato died in Athens. He was buried near the Academy, and his philosophical legacy continued to influence Western thought for centuries. The Academy remained active until it was closed by Emperor Justinian in 529 CE.

Plato wrote the 'Laws,' his last major work, which discusses the practical aspects of creating and maintaining a just society. The dialogue is more detailed and pragmatic than the 'Republic.'

Plato wrote the 'Republic,' one of his most famous works, in which he explored the nature of justice, the ideal state, and the Theory of Forms. The dialogue features Socrates as the main character.

Plato founded the Academy, one of the first institutions of higher learning in the Western world, located in a grove of olive trees dedicated to the hero Akademos. The Academy became a center for philosophical and mathematical study.

Socrates was tried and executed on charges of impiety and corrupting the youth. This event had a profound impact on Plato, who was present at the trial and later wrote dialogues to preserve Socrates' teachings.

After a brief period of oligarchic rule, democracy was restored in Athens. Plato, disillusioned with the radical democracy that had led to the execution of Socrates, began to develop his own political theories.

The Peloponnesian War ended with the defeat of Athens by Sparta. This event, along with the subsequent political turmoil, deeply affected Plato's views on politics and justice.

Plato met Socrates, who became his mentor. This encounter profoundly influenced Plato's philosophical development, and he began to attend Socrates' discussions and debates in the agora.

Plato received a classical Athenian education, which included training in gymnastics, music, and philosophy. He was influenced by the sophists and the works of earlier philosophers like Parmenides and Heraclitus.

Plato was born in Athens to an aristocratic family. His birth name was Aristocles, and Plato was a nickname meaning 'broad' or 'wide,' possibly referring to his build or forehead.