Synopsis

Plato studied under Socrates and was Aristotle's teacher. Together these three Greeks developed the basis of philosophical thinking for the entire Western world. Plato was also a writer, mathematician, and founder of the Academy in Athens, which was the first university in Europe. In the fifth century BC Greek educators (sophists) taught success in private and public life. In this dialogue Plato discusses the educator Protagoras and the arguments with Socrates. He criticizes the education methods and goals of the sophists. Plato goes on to discuss the nature of the good life and how pleasure and intellect fit into this context. Plato first asked these questions in his dialogue Meno.

Biography

Plato was a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the foundations of Western philosophy and science.