In 407 BC, when Plato was 20 years old, his father sent him to be taught by Socrates, and they became close friends from then on. Plato always regarded Socrates as the embodiment of the highest personality and wisdom, and called him his mentor. He studied with Socrates for 8 years, and it was not until Socrates was executed in 399 that he and his classmates fled Athens and went into exile. Socrates' execution was a turning point in Plato's life. This mistake left an indelible impression on his mind. He lost interest in everything except sadness. He dedicated himself to the memory of Socrates and kept his reputation alive.
Plato fled from Athens to take refuge in Megara. Since then, he has been to many places, including Sicily, southern Italy and even Egypt. During this period, he learned more about Pythagoras and studied mathematics.
388 years ago, Plato was invited by Dionysus I of Syracuse Dynasty in Sicily to give lectures there and met Dion, the tyrant's brother-in-law. Later, I quarreled with the tyrant because of disagreement. The tyrant decided to sell Plato as a slave. Fortunately, a friend of his in Silene heard that he was in danger and paid enough ransom for him, so that the Athenian nobleman escaped this shameful fate.
At this point, the Socrates incident has been forgotten. Plato then settled down and founded a college in Agal, just outside Athens, which accepted students for free. Plato started this college very successfully, and students came from all directions, the most important of which was Aristotle. He entered this school at the age of 18 and lived there for 20 years until Plato died.
Plato's works mainly include Republic, Law and Phaedo. Most of his works, except letters, adopt dialogue style, and the protagonist is his teacher Socrates. Plato believes that in order to get a correct proposition or proposition, it is most appropriate to demonstrate it in the form of dialogue. Step by step, continue to ask questions and answer questions, and you will get the final truth, which is undeniable. Because this ultimate truth is just like proving a geometric problem, it is derived layer by layer.
The central idea of Plato's philosophy is to have a transcendental rational world above the real world. Ideas are primary, and reality is secondary; Reality is a derivative of ideas, its simulation is very weak, and its shadow is extremely incomplete. The real world is unchangeable, and only the world of ideas is the eternal and real objective existence. This is the objective idealism that spirit comes first and material comes second. Although Plato was an idealist, he developed dialectics in conversation and debate. He realized the significance of the contrast of opposing opinions in the process of knowing the truth. He also solved the problems of concept, judgment and reasoning, and developed logic.
Plato expounded his political views through the Republic. The Republic was written around Plato's return to Athens. This book expresses Socrates' views on the country in the form of dialogue.
Plato thinks that the country is an enlarged individual and the individual is a reduced country. An individual has three qualities: wisdom, courage and temperance. Countries also have third-class people with different moral qualities: the first class is the sage who governs the country. They are born with "wisdom" and should dominate everything. The second category is the warriors who defend their country. They are born with a "brave" character and can be the assistants of rulers. The third category is folk artists, such as farmers, craftsmen and businessmen. They are born with the virtue of "golden mean" and specialize in labor production to serve the first two kinds of people. If these three kinds of people have their own virtues, they will realize "justice."
Plato also believes that this division is based on people's different temperament and personality, and Plato clearly described his thoughts with "metal myth". Some people seem to be made of gold and have command ability. Others seem to be made of silver and will become excellent soldiers; Finally, most people-farmers and craftsmen-are equal to steel. Generally speaking, a person and his children belong to the same class. If the three levels of people replace each other, this is "injustice"; Once a third party comes to power, the country will be overthrown. To this end, he advocated the abolition of private property between the first two people to prevent intrigue and conflict; He also advocated that the state should organize education and strive to train these two kinds of children according to a strict education system.
Plato's Republic is not a surreal fiction, but is based on the oligarchic dictatorship of Spartan slave owners and the civil land system. The scheme he designed to safeguard the exploitation and rule of aristocratic slave owners is difficult to realize in Athens with democratic political tradition. But it was not until his later years, before 367 and before 36 1 year, that he returned to Syracuse twice to publicize his political views, and the result was still a failure. Plato's utopian plan never came true.
Plato died 347 years ago at the age of 80. Legend has it that one day he attended a friend's wedding. The guests were drinking and having fun, cheering and laughing. The old philosopher felt a little overwhelmed, so he retreated to a corner of the room and soon died peacefully.
Plato's philosophy has a great influence on the development of western European philosophy. Neo-Platonism in Rome directly originated from Plato's philosophy, which influenced the whole Middle Ages through them. Modern western idealism and rationalism philosophy are also inextricably linked with Plato's philosophy. Its beneficial components were inherited by Nicholas and Bruno in Coussa during the Renaissance, and influenced German classical idealism, especially Hegel's philosophy to some extent through the play of some modern thinkers.