3  Introduction to Plato

Plato was born into a wealthy family during the last year of Athens greatness. As his life progresses his writings show that he was aware that within a short space of time Athens splendour would disappear.

Although Plato is the first major Philosopher of the Greek period to leave us with details of his thinking, it would be wrong to say that he was the founding father of Philosophy. As you will see, there were many others who lived and worked before him, but who were unable to or did not leave us with written accounts of their work or their work was subsequently lost or destroyed.

As you work through this section, remember that these ideas date from the B.C. era. This society did not have the benefits of modern technology or of our 'advanced' culture. This was a time when spears, bows and arrows and swords were the main weapons, and books were written by hand. Try not to dismiss the ideas we have been left but consider them for what they are.

The text we will read will be 'The Republic'. The whole tone of the book is given in the opening paragraphs. Plato says : "Socrates : 'Yesterday, I went down to Piraeus with Glaucon, son of Ariston, to pray to the goddess and also to observe how they put on the festival, because they are holding it for the first time'." Here Plato, through the words of Socrates come down from intellectual heights to the level of an enquirer. He is exploring the ideas which will come. This is where we must also come from. So, forget everything you know because you live in the 21st century and imagine what life was like in 422 B.C.

There are two parts to this section :

• The text
• The themes

There is a small difference between the course for Higher and for Int 2.#