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Plato, one of the greatest men of Greek philosophy, was one of the most influential thinkers in the development of human thought and knowledge.

Philosopher Emerson says, “Plato must be understood as a philosophy, just as Plato must be understood.”

In his search for Plato’s philosophy, the modern philosopher M. N. Whitehead says philosophy has not advanced at all since Plato. So far, only the commentary on Plato’s philosophy has been written.

 Plato developed philosophy so much that no one has been able to surpass him. Socrates was the original father of philosophy. His best disciple was the great philosopher Plato. Plato developed the philosophy that Socrates initiated.

Birth & Naming

The great philosopher Plato was born in 428 BC. His father’s name was Aristotle and his mother’s name was Periktion. His father was a prominent figure in Athens. But he was never interested in politics and politics. He was named Aristocles in keeping with his father’s name. But he was called Plato because he had a beautiful body. The word Plato means broad shoulders.

 Plato was thoughtful and imaginative. Even amid various complexities of the world, he kept himself engaged in the pursuit of knowledge. He inherited coral knowledge from his father.

Childhood & Adolescence

Plato was born into a wealthy family in Athens. From childhood, he was a thinker and prone to imagination. Athens was once rich in all things. Athens was involved in the war with Sicily when Plato was a teenager. The catastrophe of Athens began after this war. The dictatorship was established by destroying the democracy of the country. From this time onwards his mind became hostile towards  politics. He devoted himself to the practice of knowledge following his father.

Education

Plato received education from different teachers. Some of them have taught music, some of them have taught art, some of them have taught literature and some of them have taken science lessons. Socrates had a deep respect for him from an early age. The knowledge of Socrates attracted Plato to his teaching methods as a teenager.

At the age of twenty, Plato became a disciple of the great sage Socrates. At that time students from home and abroad used to come to Socrates for education. He did not establish any school for the education of students. His method of teaching was strange.

He used to travel to the city with his students. He used to advise on various issues through questions and answers.

 He was allowed to express his views on any subject independently. He would ask questions, listen to the answers, and then judge them by his own opinion to help them reach the right decision.

Thinker and philosopher Plato

Plato himself was a great thinker and philosopher. He has preached the ideology of Guru all his life through the dialogues and theories of his writings, but it cannot be denied that he has refrained from expressing his views.

He has tried to express himself, and his thoughts, centering on Socrates. But the source and inspiration of all his thinking was the life and words of Socrates.

Leaving home: After the death of Socrates, the political situation in Athens became unbearable and Plato was forced to leave Athens.

A few days later he traveled to different parts of Greece, then to Italy, Sicily, and Egypt. This experience of Desh Parshton helped him to spread his vision and knowledge.

His identity and views have been exchanged with wise thinkers in different countries. Plato himself has gained fame, respect, and admiration everywhere as a sage.

After ten long years in exile. The fame of his erudition spread so far that when he returned to Athens, students from far and wide flocked to him.

To teach the students, he did not follow the method of Guru Socrates but established an academy away from the hustle and bustle of public places. The academy named the academy established in its own garden house on the outskirts of the city. He used to distribute knowledge among the students centering on this academy. The world of their knowledge and thought was revealed in the radiance of his thinking and wisdom.

Formation of Ideal Welfare State

Although preoccupied with philosophical thought, Plato dreamed of building an ideal welfare state inspired by the welfare of mankind. But sadly, he did not get a chance to realize that dream due to the cooperation of the so-called state leaders.

He was once summoned by the ruling elite of Sicily as an adviser. He wanted to make Sicily an ideal state. But it failed to restore transparency in the turmoil of so-called politics. Forced to return to Athens.

Women’s Education

Plato believes that women have a prominent role to play in motivating people to think and act. Citing the example of various Greek philosophers, he showed that the source of their great inspiration was educated women. She has therefore attached importance to women’s education. He praised the liberal principles in the field of women’s education and said that only ideal women could become worthy companions of men.

In the context of equal rights for men and women, he cautioned that men should not ignore women out of ego.

The real purpose of building an ideal human society, an ideal state, was realized by the philosopher Plato in his republican texts, in the face of the impact of real life. So in his last life, he wrote about the rule of law in real need in his book The Laws.

Plato in Music and Literature

The philosopher Plato was a music lover. He also had a deep interest in the aesthetic theory of poetry. He also praised the role of music in the development of human qualities.

Another aspect of the philosopher Plato is his poetry. In his essays, on the one hand, knowledge, depth, and wisdom, on the other hand, unparalleled elegance has been revealed. The language of philosophy can become so lively, incomparable in poetic beauty, that it cannot be felt without reading Plato’s work. Plato did not have respect for poets, but the poet and the philosophical entity became one in his writings.

Speaking in search of Plato, Bertrand Russell, one of the greatest philosophers of this age, once said that Plato was not just a thinker – he was a craftsman. Each of his works is the best example of literary excellence. Somewhere his compositions are incomparably dramatic, somewhere wrapped in historical cumulus. Humor, seriousness, and humor in his writings, like the shadow of the morning light, have made his knowledge and wisdom deeply alive. The famous philosopher Russell said, “Plato’s name will remain immortal as one of the best writers in the world because of its beauty of style, variety of subjects, and purity.

Religious beliefs

Plato was a believer in one God. God is good, He is good to people. Plato did not acknowledge the necessity of religious worship. He believed that God was to be worshiped through reverence, holy character, wisdom, and knowledge.

Books

He has written several books on philosophy. His books include Laches, Crito, Protagoras, Jorgias, Meno.

A large number of Plato’s books are based on dialogue or question-and-answer sessions. It is these that are referred to as dialogues. Among his prominent dialogues are Sispozium, Fedo, and Republic. Feodras, Parmenides, Sophist, Politicu, Timoru, Philebus. He writes most of the citizens in favor of his last life so that we can be governed under the law in his book The Laws. This is his most recent book.

Plato’s best-known book is The Republic in this book, Plato divides the people of the country into three categories. The state is to be run by a guardian class. The army is to form the second class that will be charged with the responsibility of defending the country from external enemies. Finally, the common people of the country are to belong in the third class.

Death

Plato lived to be 81 years old. In 347 BC, he was invited to the wedding of a friend’s son. After a while, he got tired of the noise. He went to the next room to rest. But the sound of rejoicing grew louder and louder. The old philosopher Plato was forgotten by everyone present at the wedding. At one point the marriage ended. The newlyweds entered Plato’s room to receive blessings. He was then unconscious in a deep sleep. He got eternal sleep invisible to everyone and he will never wake up at the call of any human being in the world.