Plato

Plato's most important contribution to Western Philosophy was his theory of Forms or Ideas. In this theory, he argued that the physical world is an imperfect reflection of a higher realm of eternal and unchanging Forms, which represent the true essence of things. This idea has had a profound influence on Western philosophical thought, particularly in the areas of metaphysics and epistemology.

Chaerephon was a friend of Socrates who asked the Oracle of Delphi if anyone was wiser than Socrates. The Oracle replied that no one was wiser than Socrates, leading Socrates to dedicate his life to understanding this paradox.

Socrates believed that true knowledge leads to virtue. He argued that if individuals truly understood what is good and just, they would naturally choose to act in virtuous ways. Therefore, he believed that virtue arises from knowledge.

Plato described Socrates as the "gadfly" of the state because just like the gadfly stung horses into action, Socrates had "stung" various Athenians into unrest. In the end, he was sentenced to death for his controversial provocations.

Plato and Aristotle disagreed on various issues, including the nature of reality, the concept of forms, the role of reason, and the ideal state. Plato believed in a realm of perfect forms that exist independently of the physical world, while Aristotle believed that reality is found in the physical world through empirical observation and experience. Plato also advocated for philosopher-kings ruling the ideal state, whereas Aristotle believed in a more democratic form of government.

Socrates primarily stayed in Athens, Greece for most of his life. He did not travel extensively but is known to have participated in military campaigns, such as the Peloponnesian War, where he served as a hoplite.

In Plato's philosophy, the state represents the social and political organization of society as a whole, with each individual fulfilling a specific role based on their abilities. Plato believed in a hierarchical system where rulers, soldiers, and producers each had their own responsibilities in maintaining a just society. The state, according to Plato, should be guided by philosopher-kings who possess wisdom and virtue.

In a Socratic seminar, you're usually arranged in some sort of circle with a few people sitting inside the middle of the circle. Each person takes turns voicing their opinions on whatever topic, and then others respond accordingly.

The main goal of Socratic Seminar is to build deep conceptual understandings of texts and ideas, where the word "text" is used loosely to refer to a piece of writing, visual art, music, movement, etc. In seminar, the teacher shifts his or her role to that of facilitator or questioner, so that the students can move from passive reception of knowledge to actively constructing meaning and understanding. They will build on others' ideas, cite the text, ask questions and voice their own opinions. With practice, the students become self-sufficient and together they can tackle even the most challenging texts.

Participants in Socratic Seminar are meant to engage in dialogue, which is different than both debate or discussion. Debates and discussions are both fine practices and they have their own goals and purposes. Debates are typically characterized by two sides in oppositional or competitive roles, where each team attempts to prove their entrenched view. Dialogue is characterized by a cooperative atmosphere, where all of the participants attempt to work together to form greater shared understandings. Classroom discussions often look similar, but they are typically meant to broaden a topic, whereas Socratic Seminars are meant to deepen.

Mark Twain is often credited with the quote "It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." The sentiment encourages caution and prudence when speaking without full knowledge or understanding of a situation.

Democritus' theory suggested that all matter is composed of tiny, indivisible particles called atoms, which are constantly moving and interacting with each other. Despite their disagreements, both Plato and Aristotle recognized the concept of atoms as fundamental building blocks of matter.

The longest and most famous of Plato's dialogue's is now known by its Latin title, the Republic.

The oracle at Delphi declared that Socrates was the wisest man in Athens after Chairephon, a friend of Socrates, asked the oracle if there was anyone wiser than Socrates. This led Socrates to explore and question various Athenian authorities and craftsmen to understand how his wisdom compared to theirs.

Plato wrote around 36 dialogues, with "The Republic" being one of his most famous works. These dialogues typically feature Socrates engaging in philosophical discussions with other characters.

Plato believed that power and authority should be held by philosopher kings, who are guided by reason and wisdom. He argued that the legitimacy of rulers comes from their knowledge and understanding of the truth, rather than from birthright or wealth. Plato's ideal state in "The Republic" emphasizes the importance of just and noble rulers who govern for the benefit of the entire society.

just keep clicking the next button on the tutorials and on tests click random answers... but if your teacher says you need to pass it to go to the next thing then i can't help you... your going to have to read everything and take notes so you can pass... i suggest taking your time with it...don't rush...

Plato believed that democracy would lead to mob rule and chaos because it allowed the uneducated masses to have power over the government. He viewed democracy as a system that prioritized personal freedoms over the common good, leading to a society ruled by passion rather than reason. Plato preferred a system of meritocracy, where the most knowledgeable and virtuous individuals would govern.

In Plato's Republic, a just state is one in which each individual performs the role they are best suited for, creating a harmonious and balanced society. Justice is achieved when each class - the rulers, auxiliaries, and producers - fulfills its function without infringing on the rights of others, guided by reason and virtue. This idea of justice is also reflected in the individual soul, where reason rules over the spirited and appetitive parts.

Plato argues that citizens must have knowledge, self-discipline, and a sense of duty to participate in society effectively. He believes that a well-ordered society is only possible when individuals possess these qualities and actively contribute to the common good.

Why does Plato believe that only Philosophers are fit to rule?

Rather than the practical pursuit we are accustomed to, for Plato, Politics is an intellectual faculty. Governance by non-philosophers is to be governed by opinions, beliefs and self-interest; in contrast the philosopher ruler will govern with virtue and justice with no hidden agenda. The philosopher is in love, in love with learning, knowledge and truth. It is important to make a distinction here between the acquisition of knowledge and the acquisition of truth, because knowledge is not necessarily the truth.

With the help of an allegory, Plato explains the sensible world of illusion and belief, the place where most people reside. The philosopher has stepped outside this world, into a world of knowledge and truth. Plato makes use of a cave to explain this; I will use another means. A child believes in the myth of Santa Claus, a child has good reason to suppose this myth is true, it is inculcated when he receives Christmas presents, the media, family and friends consolidate the belief, the child even writes to Santa Claus and receives a reply. On Christmas Day this belief becomes a 'reality'. Through education and maturity, the child will have doubts as to the truth of this illusion. At some stage during the transition from childhood to adulthood he will acknowledge the illusion, and further, during parenthood the myth really comes home to roost as knowledge and absolute truth. (He now has a choice; he can put an end to the myth or continue the cycle) What is distinctive regarding each stage, is how far they have come out of the cave. Through illusion and belief to knowledge, or from artisan to auxiliary to philosopher.

The fundamental prerequisite to becoming a philosopher ruler is to have knowledge of the forms, therefore knowing the truth. The forms do not exist in the sensible world, they can only be found in the super-sensible world. Platos' theory of the forms is partly logical and partly metaphysical. The logical part is, take for example a dog, there will be many types of dog, and general particulars regarding a dog. The form of a dog is universal and eternal it has no position in space or time, it is not born when a dog is born, nor does it die when a dog dies. The metaphysical part of the theory is the form of a dog is a perfect, unique dog, created by God. The dog is real, particular dogs are apparent. Armed with this truth, the philosopher rulers will always make the right decisions, and rule with total wisdom, justice and virtue. The rulers will not own property, nor have money, they will be free of vices, excesses and desires. They will have a Spartan existence (Plato was an admirer of Spartan culture). A ruler in Platos' society as described in his dialogue The Republic would be incorruptible, an absolute model of sensible world perfection and justice. If one was to look no further into Platos' utopian society you could be forgiven for thinking that the philosopher rulers would be the ultimate answer for political duties and government administration. A more detailed examination of policy and structure is necessary, prior to arriving at a conclusion.

The structure in Platos' society is tripartite and hierarchical, made up of the philosopher kings as rulers. The auxiliaries who will be in a sort of military role (prospective rulers) and the artisans (workers) who will produce all the consumable and non consumable goods deemed necessary for consumption and the continued economic viability of the society....cont'd

Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates were ancient Greek philosophers who made significant contributions to the fields of philosophy, ethics, and metaphysics. They are known for their teachings and writings on various aspects of knowledge, virtue, and the nature of reality. Socrates was Plato's mentor, who in turn was Aristotle's mentor, creating a lineage of influential philosophical thought.

In Plato's perfect society, the ruler was a philosopher king, a wise and just individual who had received extensive training in dialectic and philosophy. This ruler would be knowledgeable about the true nature of reality and would prioritize the common good over personal gain.

No. Nor can anyone else here.

Checking with Wikipedia couldn't either, but it would be a start. Then you could read the incredible number of volumes wrote about Plato, his life, times, thoughts, ideas, impact, etc., in the last 2,000 years or so.

And that still wouldn't tell you "everything" about Plato.

Socrates could be compared to other classical philosophers like Plato or Aristotle, as they all aimed to uncover truths about the world and human behavior through philosophical inquiry. Additionally, Socrates could be compared to modern-day philosophers who challenge conventional wisdom and provoke critical thinking, such as Friedrich Nietzsche or Michel Foucault.

Socrates was his own mentor - learning from discussions with the young men he mentored.