Did Plato Actually Exist?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

Did Plato actually exist? Plato, (born 428/427 bce, Athens, Greece—died 348/347, Athens),

ancient Greek philosopher

, student of Socrates (c. 470–399 bce), of Aristotle (384–322 bce), and founder of the Academy, best known as the author of philosophical works of unparalleled influence.

When did Plato exist?

The Athenian philosopher Plato (

c. 428-347 B.C.

) is one of the most important figures of the Ancient Greek world and the entire history of Western thought. In his written dialogues he conveyed and expanded on the ideas and techniques of his teacher Socrates.

Did Socrates actually exist?


At least no modern scholars really question the fact he existed

. Socrates was a very well-known figure at Athens during his own lifetime and his execution in 399 BC catapulted him into even greater and more lasting fame.

Do Platos Forms exist?

Did Plato and Aristotle exist?


428–c. 348 BCE) and Aristotle (384–322 BCE) are generally regarded as the two greatest figures of Western philosophy

. For some 20 years Aristotle was Plato's student and colleague at the Academy in Athens, an institution for philosophical, scientific, and mathematical research and teaching founded by Plato in the 380s.

What is Plato's real name?

Plato's actual given name was apparently

Aristocles

, after his grandfather. “Plato” seems to have started as a nickname (for platos, or “broad”), perhaps first given to him by his wrestling teacher for his physique, or for the breadth of his style, or even the breadth of his forehead (all given in D.L. 3.4).

Who were the 3 main philosophers?


Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle

: The Big Three of Greek Philosophy Article – dummies.

Does Socrates believe in God?

The Athenians had certain beliefs concerning deity.

Socrates also believes in deity

, but his conception is completely different from the typical Athenians. While to the Athenians gods are human-like and confused, Socrates believes god to be perfectly good and perfectly wise. His god is rationally moral.

Did Plato ever meet Socrates?

Plato, the best known of Socrates' followers, was born in 427 BCE in the city of Athens. He was still a young man when his teacher died.

At around 20 years old, Plato met Socrates

. He took a strong interest in politics at this time.

What philosopher never wrote down a word?

Unlike other philosophers of his time and ours,

Socrates

never wrote anything down but was committed to living simply and to interrogating the everyday views and popular opinions of those in his home city of Athens.

Do Platonic concepts exist?


Platonism is the view that there exist such things as abstract objects

— where an abstract object is an object that does not exist in space or time and which is therefore entirely non-physical and non-mental. Platonism in this sense is a contemporary view.

Why Plato's Forms are wrong?

If everyone was just in this world, the word justice will no longer exist. We have invented these words as there was a need for them. Therefore, Plato's theory of forms is fundamentally flawed because

he is searching for concepts which don't exist independently of the human language

.

Is the Realm of Forms real?

The Forms are abstract, perfect, unchanging concepts or ideals that transcend time and space; they exist in the Realm of Forms. Even though the Forms are abstract, that doesn't mean they are not real. In fact,

the Forms are more ‘real' than any individual physical objects

.

What are the 7 philosophers?

Seven thinkers and how they grew:

Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz; Locke, Berkeley, Hume; Kant

(Chapter 6) – Philosophy in History.

Who came first Plato or Socrates?

All three of these men lived in Athens for most of their lives, and they knew each other.

Socrates came first

, and Plato was his student, around 400 BC.

Who is the 5 Greek philosophers?

  • Thales of Miletus (620 BC–546 BC) …
  • Pythagoras (570 BC–495 BC) …
  • Socrates (469 BC–399 BC) …
  • Plato (427 BC–347 BC) …
  • Aristotle (384 BC–322 BC)

How did Plato died?

399 BCE – Socrates, condemned to death for corrupting the young, drank hemlock amongst his friends as described in Plato's Phaedo. 348 BCE – Plato either died

while being serenaded by a Thracian flute-playing girl, at a wedding feast, or in his sleep

.

How old is Plato today?

Plato Died 348/347 BC (age

c. 80

) Athens, Greece
Nationality Greek Notable work Apology Crito Euthyphro Meno Parmenides Phaedo Phaedrus Republic Symposium Timaeus Laws Era Ancient Greek philosophy

What are 5 facts about Plato?

Who is better Plato or Aristotle?

Though many more of Plato's works survived the centuries,

Aristotle's contributions have arguably been more influential

, particularly when it comes to science and logical reasoning. While both philosophers' works are considered less theoretically valuable in modern times, they continue to have great historical value.

Who taught Socrates as a child?

Along with Diotima,

Aspasia

was one of the two women philosophers whom Plato recognised as a teacher of Socrates.

How old was Plato when Socrates died?

Plato was

about twenty-five

when Socrates was tried and executed, and had probably known the old man most of his life.

How did Aristotle view God?

God serves two roles in Aristotle's philosophy.

He is the source of motion and change in the universe, and He stands at the pinnacle of the Great Chain of Being by providing an example of pure form existing without any relation to matter

.

Who is the real father of philosophy?


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 said the wisest man knows nothing?


Socrates, speaking to the Oracle of Delphi

famously uttered the following quote: If I am the wisest man alive, it is for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing. Though there may be some debate about whether or not he said it (we think he did), there is little debate about what he meant.

Can the Socratic problem be solved?

It is apparent to scholarship that this problem is now deemed a task seeming impossible to clarify and thus

perhaps now classified as unsolvable

. Socrates was the main character in most of Plato's dialogues and was a genuine historical figure.

Why did Socrates not write books?

Back in the day (around 425 B.C.),

books were hard to find and tough to afford

. Socrates lived in a time when important business was handled through speaking, rather than writing.

Did Plato write anything?


Plato wrote many philosophical texts—at least 25

. He dedicated his life to learning and teaching and is hailed as one of the founders of Western philosophy.

What is Socrates famous quote?

How old is Plato today?

Plato Died 348/347 BC (age

c. 80

) Athens, Greece
Nationality Greek Notable work Apology Crito Euthyphro Meno Parmenides Phaedo Phaedrus Republic Symposium Timaeus Laws Era Ancient Greek philosophy

Who came first Plato or Socrates?

All three of these men lived in Athens for most of their lives, and they knew each other.

Socrates came first

, and Plato was his student, around 400 BC.

How did Plato died?

In what year was Pythagoras born?

Pythagoras was born about

570 BCE

on the island of Samos. He died at Metapontium, in modern-day Italy, about 500 to 490 BCE.

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.