Plato: The Philosopher King

Plato (428-348 BC) may not be the king of all philosophers but he is arguably the most important, especially among those of the western hemisphere.

Not only was he well-educated but he was also an outstanding writer, which would enable his ability to express his thoughts and propel his significance as a philosopher and to share the wisdom and methods of his mentor, Socrates, who was not a writer.

In his best-known writing, The Republic, Plato illustrates the early forms of logic through the use of dialectic -- a method of reaching the truth through a discussion composed of argument and counter-argument -- an application of The Socratic Method -- that Plato learned from his mentor.

Here are a few more bits of knowledge about Plato that will hopefully inspire you to learn more about this great philosopher:

• Plato, who lived in ancient Greece, was the first philosopher to take all the main aspects of philosophy -- being, knowing, and acting -- and put them together into one coherent system.
• He was interested in politics as a young man but shifted toward philosophy when he came to believe that politicians did not think clearly enough about the proper relationship between order and the ideal truth.  He became especially disillusioned with politics when his teacher and mentor, Socrates, was forced to renounce his philosophical beliefs or die:  Socrates chose to die; however, he lived on through the thoughts and writings of Plato...
• Plato theorized a republic divided into three classes of people:  rulers, soldiers, and tradespeople.  Of course, the rulers (kings) were philosophers because of their altruistic nature and their promotion of the greater good as opposed to perpetual self-promotion.
• A key aspect to Plato's thinking is the idea of the idea.  To Plato, ideas are forms that give their shape to ordinary reality.  What's more, they are always right!  It's the physical world -- the world of becoming -- that can be mistaken.  For example, you may have a perfect idea but it may not work because the world is not perfect!
• Plato is often called a rationalist -- someone who believes we can know true ideas without first learning them from experience.

To know Plato, or any philosopher, is to know their words of wisdom.  Here are just a few samples of Plato's thinking put into words:

Moderation, which consists in indifference about little things, and in a prudent and well-proportioned zeal about things of importance, can proceed from nothing but true knowledge, which has its foundation in self-acquaintance.

A good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers.

Courage is knowing what not to fear.

Excess generally causes reaction, and produces a change in the opposite direction.

Necessity... the mother of invention.

One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.

Opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance.

The most virtuous are those who content themselves with being virtuous without seeking to appear so.

To prefer evil to good is not in human nature; and when a man is compelled to choose one of two evils, no one will choose the greater when he might have the less.

Your silence gives consent.

When the mind is thinking it is talking to itself.

Ignorance of all things is an evil neither terrible nor excessive, nor yet the greatest of all; but great cleverness and much learning, if they be accompanied by a bad training, are a much greater misfortune.

We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.

Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.

Wonder is the feeling of the philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder.

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Image by Shannon

Comments

[JV]

Hello Kent--

I'm wondering about your source for the Plato quote that begins with "Moderation, which consists in indifference about little things..."

The only primary source I can find with this quote is a book called "A Treatise on Self-Knowledge" by an 18th century clergyman named John Mason. He uses these exact words, but doesn't reference Plato. If this quote, or one like it, does occur in Plato, can you point me to the work?

Also, I don't think that "Necessity..the mother of invention" occurs in Plato.