# Plato

## Biography

Plato, born Aristocles in Athens around 428/427 BCE, was a foundational figure in Western philosophy. Descending from an aristocratic Athenian family, he was a devoted student of Socrates. The execution of his mentor profoundly impacted Plato, leading him to dedicate his life to philosophical inquiry. After a period of travel, he established the Academy in Athens around 387 BCE, an institution often regarded as the first university in the Western world, where he taught until his death around 348/347 BCE. Among his most famous pupils was Aristotle. Plato’s extensive writings, primarily in the form of dialogues featuring Socrates, explore a wide range of subjects including ethics, politics, metaphysics, and epistemology. His most celebrated contributions include the Theory of Forms, which posits an ideal realm beyond sensory experience, and his seminal work, *The Republic*, which outlines his vision of an ideal state governed by philosopher-kings. Plato’s ideas have profoundly influenced intellectual thought for over two millennia.

## Books

- [Laws](https://samolit.com/books/96688)
- [Euthyphro](https://samolit.com/books/96661)
- [Phaedrus](https://samolit.com/books/96533)
- [Apology, Crito, and Phaedo of Socrates](https://samolit.com/books/96463)
- [Meno](https://samolit.com/books/96453)
- [The Republic](https://samolit.com/books/96204)
- [Phaedo](https://samolit.com/books/96189)
- [Gorgias](https://samolit.com/books/96186)
- [Apology](https://samolit.com/books/96077)
- [Symposium](https://samolit.com/books/95984)
- [The Republic](https://samolit.com/books/95825)