What we know about Socrates comes mostly from
his student, Plato.
Plato called Socrates "the best of all men
I have ever known."
Plato wrote down his teacher’s ideas in
a series of dialogues.
A dialogue is a conversation between two people.
Plato was a young man when he began to study
with Socrates.
Plato came from a very wealthy and powerful
family.
He was named Aristocles, but he was better
known as Plato, a nickname that means “broad.”
Plato’s nickname could have referred either
to the philosopher’s broad shoulders, or
to the breadth of his great intellect.
When Socrates died, Plato left Athens for
more than a decade.
He returned to start the Academy, a school
where Plato and his invited guests would discuss
philosophy.
Plato saw his imperfect world and thought
of ways he could improve society.
Plato wrote about utopia.
A utopia is an imaginary place where governments
and social conditions are perfect.
No government has ever adopted Plato’s ideas,
but his philosophy influenced leaders for
over two thousand years.
Plato argued in favor of an "aristocracy of
merit," or rule by the best and the wisest
people.
Plato believed that government should raise
all children so that everyone would have equal
opportunities.
Schools would test students on a regular basis.
Students who did poorly would be sent to work,
while those who did well would continue their
studies.
Plato believed a small group of intelligent
and educated men and women should govern society.
This small group would select the best and
the brightest students to join them.
Later in his life Plato mentored a young man
named Aristotle.
A mentor is someone who teaches or gives help
and advice to a less experienced and often
younger person.
Aristotle’s ideas would form the basis of
modern science.
