Plato

Guide Note:

Athenian philosopher, mathematician, writer, and astronomer Plato, along with his mentor Socrates and student Aristotle, laid the foundations for modern Western philosophy.

Born into affluence, Plato rejected his noble upbringing to devote himself to higher education. He was one of the first to theorize that the Earth was spherical, but incorrectly placed it at the center of the Universe. He also believed that all substances on earth were composed of the four elements—air, earth, fire, and water.

Nearly everything Plato wrote was composed in the form of a dialog, and therefore his writings have been grouped by subject and era into over two dozen collections known as Plato's "Dialogues."

Fast Facts:

1. Lifespan: 427 - 347 BC
2. Founded the first known University, the Academy school in Athens
3. Believed that the pursuit of absolute truth was unattainable
4. Most well-known work is The (Plato's) Republic