Plato

Matthew Simko
CLAS1120U
7/15/19
 Early Life
● Plato was born in 428/427 B.C.E in
Athens, Greece to father Ariston and
mother Perictione
● Plato’s family claimed to be
descended from the Greek god
Poseidon and were believed to be
part of the aristocracy
● Plato’s father Ariston is said to have
died early on in Plato’s life and
Perictione after married her uncle,
Pyrilampes
Plato and Socrates
● Plato was a follower of Socrates
and it is believed he was a part of
a “circle” centered around Socrates
● Socrates was the main influence
on Plato’s life and was believed to
be the source of Plato’s writings
● In many of Plato’s works, he writes
from the perspective of Socrates
The Death of Socrates and Travelling
● A time of political instability hit
Athens after the defeat by Sparta
and end of the Peloponnesian war
● Socrates was put on trial and found
guilty of “corrupting the youth” and
was promptly executed in 399 B.C.E
● After Socrates’ death, Plato is
believed to have travelled to places
in Greece, Italy, and Egypt
The Epistles of Plato

● The Epistles of Plato is a collection of thirteen letters that are

suspected to be written by Plato
● The letters focus mostly on Plato’s time in Syracuse in Sicily
● Although the validity of a few of the letters has been questioned,
many agree that works can be attributed to Plato
Fourth Letter
● This letter is addressed to Dion who was the uncle of Dionysius II of
Syracuse
● Dion had pushed Dionysius out of power in Syracuse to seize
leadership himself
● In the letter Plato seemingly approves of Dion’s political takeover and
says “I think my good will towards your enterprise has been evident
from the beginning, as well as my earnest desire to see it brought to
completion”
● Although Plato approves of Dion, he warns not to neglect his virtue
and that he wish Dion update him on the state of Syracuse writing
“Write us also what you have done or are doing, since we hear many
reports but know nothing surely.”
Fifth Letter
● This letter was addressed to Perdiccas III who was the king of
Macedon
● In the letter, Plato agrees that he will counsel Euphraeus “…to look
studiously after your interests…”
● Plato does go on to say, however, that it would be beneficial to
Perdiccas to listen to Euphraeus and that “The man can be of service
to you in many ways…”
● Lastly Plato explains his celibacy from politics and that he does not
take part in causes he finds to be hopeless as he writes “If we seemed
to him incurable, he would bid us a long farewell and refrain from
advising about me or my affairs.”
Eighth Letter

● Dion was assassinated 353 B.C.E after attempting to liberate Syracuse

and the greater island of Sicily
● In this letter, Plato writes to the followers and friends of Dion during a
time of political turmoil in Syracuse
● The conflict is fueled by a divide between those who desire
democracy and those who desire dictatorship
● Plato suggests a tradeoff between democracy and tyranny which
would be a monarchy
Ninth Letter

● This letter is written to Archytas of Tarentum who Plato met when he

first visited Sicily
● Plato had learned from the Pythagoreans Archippus and Philonides
that Archytas was upset with his obligations to government of
Tarentum
● Plato says in the letter that although it is tempting to follow one’s own
pursuits “...a part of our existence belongs to our country, a part to our
parents, a part to our other friends…”
● Plato told Archytas that he has a responsibility to others and not just
to himself
 Late Life and Death

● After returning from his travels, Plato

established an academy that was one
of the earliest organized schools and it
was were Aristotle was schooled
● Plato died in 347 B.C.E at the age of 82
Works Cited

“The Death of Socrates.” Metmuseum.org, The Metropolitan Museum of Art,

www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436105.

“Plato (c. 427 BC–c. 347 BC).” Lapham's Quarterly,

www.laphamsquarterly.org/contributors/plato.

Kraut, Richard. “Socrates.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica,

Inc., 8 Feb. 2019, www.britannica.com/biography/Socrates/Plato.

Meinwald, Constance C. “Plato.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia

Britannica, Inc., 4 July 2019, www.britannica.com/biography/Plato.