Plato

Born in Athens around 428/427 BCE, Plato became one of the central figures of ancient Greek philosophy. Ancient sources and modern reference works consistently connect him with Socrates, whose questioning style deeply shaped Plato’s writing, and with Aristotle, who later studied at Plato’s school.

Plato founded the Academy in Athens, a school that became one of the most influential centers of learning in the ancient world. Rather than writing philosophy as dry instruction, he usually presented ideas through dialogues, letting characters debate big questions about truth, virtue, love, government, and the nature of reality.

His best-known works include The Republic, Symposium, and Phaedo. Across these writings, he explored themes that still matter to readers now: what makes a life good, whether justice can really exist in society, and how human beings can move from opinion toward understanding.