Difference between revisions of "Plato"
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| − | Plato was a great [[Greek philosopher]] from 428 to 347 BC | + | Plato was a great [[Greek philosopher]] from 428 to 347 BC. He was a student of [[Socrates]] and founded the Academy, a school bereft of buildings wherein Plato taught his students math, logic, and the tenants of Sophitic thought. He wrote the [[Republic]], and its logical sequel, [[The Laws]], as well as a large number of other, less popular works in which he showed (amongst other things) how to teach [[geometry]] to [[slaves]], how to irritate [[sophists]], and how everything in the world is made of triangles. One of Plato's pupils was [[Aristotle]]. |
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| + | Plato also created the allegory of the cave. In this story there are a group of individuals chained in a cave with a fire to their backs. They cannot turn their heads and may only gaze upon the shadows reflecting off the cave walls. The more intelligent among them begin to recognize patterns within the flames and think they are finding knowledge. One day someone escapes and views the real world where he observes the real world. He returns to tell his companions of his amazing discovery only to be refuted and disbelieved by the cave dwellers who cannot even comprehend what he is trying to tell them. Further hurting his credibility, having been in the light he finds it difficult to operate in the dim cave and appears clumsy. In this way man lives in the dark paying attention to inperminent and partial truths while scorning those who would attempt to show them truths that do not fit into their reality. | ||
[[Category:Biographies]] | [[Category:Biographies]] | ||
[[Category:Philosophy]] | [[Category:Philosophy]] | ||
Revision as of 01:44, March 14, 2007
Plato was a great Greek philosopher from 428 to 347 BC. He was a student of Socrates and founded the Academy, a school bereft of buildings wherein Plato taught his students math, logic, and the tenants of Sophitic thought. He wrote the Republic, and its logical sequel, The Laws, as well as a large number of other, less popular works in which he showed (amongst other things) how to teach geometry to slaves, how to irritate sophists, and how everything in the world is made of triangles. One of Plato's pupils was Aristotle.
Plato also created the allegory of the cave. In this story there are a group of individuals chained in a cave with a fire to their backs. They cannot turn their heads and may only gaze upon the shadows reflecting off the cave walls. The more intelligent among them begin to recognize patterns within the flames and think they are finding knowledge. One day someone escapes and views the real world where he observes the real world. He returns to tell his companions of his amazing discovery only to be refuted and disbelieved by the cave dwellers who cannot even comprehend what he is trying to tell them. Further hurting his credibility, having been in the light he finds it difficult to operate in the dim cave and appears clumsy. In this way man lives in the dark paying attention to inperminent and partial truths while scorning those who would attempt to show them truths that do not fit into their reality.