WELCOME SCHOLARS!

INTRODUCTION

Plato was one of the paramount philosophers in ancient Greek history and also one of the most creative and influential minds in Western Philosophy.

Born in 428? BC in the city of Athens to an aristocratic family, he grew to develop interest in politics and the philosophical application to Athenian political system. He eventually became a student of Socrates, another great philosopher with an unquenchable thirst for the truth. Socrates was put to death in 399 BC by the Athenian government.

Plato then established his own institution The Academy in 387 BC. With a curriculum in Astronomy, Biology, Mathematics, Political theory and Philosophy, The Academy came to be known as the first University in Europe.

On that brief historical note, it is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to my Blog – THE PLATONIC ACADEMY.

Among the three great Philosophers of ancient times: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, I have always had the greatest admiration for Plato because there would be no record of Socrates had it not been for Plato and there would have been no opportunity for education for Aristotle, had it not been for Plato. So it would be correct to infer that we owe our knowledge of western Philosophy and all its applications in life and science to Plato.

SOCRATIC DIALOGUE

Before Plato began any writings of his own, he took it upon himself to immortalize his mentor, Socrates. This led him to make written accounts of all Socrates’ dialogues. These dialogues were in the form of Question-Answer. He would argue both sides of the question and arrive at a conclusion, then, he would argue that conclusion against another assumption. Complicated right? 

This unique style was practiced by Socrates because he believed that “Man was already born with knowledge” and all that was needed was to task the mind to ‘pull’ the answers to questions out of our minds. The only way to achieve this would be to pose the right questions and argue it out, more or less, until one reaches a sound conclusion. 

Socrates also believed that an awareness that one knows that he does not know is the beginning of true wisdom. Plato learned this style of philosophising and also used it in his own dialogues. 

“The true lover of knowledge naturally strives for truth, and is not content with common opinion, but soars with undimmed and unwearied passion till he grasps the essential nature of things.”

It has become imperative that the mordern youth engage in intellectual dialogue in order to arm themselves with requisite knowlegde for individual and societal development in a world afflicted with ignorance.

Once again, It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to THE PLATONIC ACADEMY. Where Excellence and Greatness are Nurtured through Intellectual Dialogue.

Scholars at The Academy (Plato, third from the left)

References from: 

Baird, Robert M (2007). "Plato." Microsoft® Student 2008 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation.

Bust of the great Greek Philosopher Plato (image). Available at: http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/history/carnegie/plato/bust.html. Cited on February 21st, 2011.

 Plato's Acadmy Mosaic from Pompeii (image). Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Plato%27s_Academy_mosaic_from_Pompeii.jpg. Cited on Februrary 21st, 2011.

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