Installment One : Monee' Preston

November 23, 2015
Section 12'

            Plato  is one of the most widely studied and known philosopher in the world. He was the teacher of Aristotle and the student of Socrates. Although, mainly Socrates influenced him, but he was also empowered by Heraclitus, Parmenides, and the Pythagoreans as well. Plato was an Athenian philosopher, who died at the age of eighty-one. Plato’s actual given name was “Aristocles” after his grandfather, but Plato seemed to come up as some sort of nickname that well suited him. He came from one of the most politically and wealthy active families in Athens. So politically structured that one of Plato’s uncles, Charmides, who was a part of the “Thirsty Tyrants”, who overthrew the Athens democracy in the early times. If I had an uncle who had that much power a belonged to some big shot group, I would kind of look up to him and his go whereabouts but then again, was it that serious to actually through the entire democracy out? Ariston was Plato’s fathers’ name. Ariston descended directly from kings of Messeina and Athens. . Even Plato’s mother, Perictione, is believed to be a descendant of an aristocrat named Solon. According to historians, Solon was a Greek political leader from 6th century BCE. Since Plato belonged from an aristocrat family, he received his education from some of the finest educators who were present in Athens at that time. One of the famous students of Plato was Aristotle. It was Aristotle who gave a whole new direction to Plato’s thoughts.
       
 Link for all post -  http://www.biography.com/people/plato-9442588#background

          As Plato later developed into a man by going throughout his own ways and experiences, he seem to learn a lot. Scholars, writers, and some of Athens finest educators structured most of Plato’s life. I believe the war and meeting Socrates during his lifetime made him who he is today. Without those two significant events occurring then Plato would not be Plato for he learned a good majority of his dialogue from Socrates. Those two to me seem to mold his life significantly than most of some of the other things done during his time. The other significant event was the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. The defeat of Athens ended its democracy, which the Spartans replaced with an oligarchy. After the oligarchy was overthrown and democracy was restored, Plato briefly considered a career in politics, but the execution of Socrates in 399 B.C.E. soured him on this idea and he turned to a life of study and philosophy.