Born c. 428 bc, Plato, amongst the most influential philosophers of Classical Greece, played a major role in shaping the Western philosophical tradition. A student of the famed philosopher Socrates, Plato went on to teach the equally influential philosopher Aristotle at the Academy he founded. Considered the first institution of higher learning in the Western world, Plato’s Academy became the site where the influential philosopher propagated his seminal ideas. Much of Plato’s work is structured in the form of dialogues which allow for discussion and debate. The first to relate philosophy with polity, Plato is known for his Dialogues, which features his metaphysical Theory of Forms, and addresses a stunning range of topics including love, beauty, justice, equality, and humankind’s fear of death. Some of his other influential works are the Republic (380 bc), Apology (399 bc) and The Symposium (c. 380–375 bc).
