disciple of Socrates, teacher of Aristotle - Greek thinker and philosopher Plato, whose biography is of interest to historians, stylists, writers, philosophers and politicians.This is an outstanding representative of humanity, lived in troubled times of the crisis of the Greek polis, sharpening of the class struggle, when to replace the Hellenistic era came the era of Alexander the Great.Fruitfully lived a life philosopher Plato.Biography briefly presented in the article shows his greatness and wisdom of the heart of the scientist.
Life Path
Plato was born in 428/427 BCin Athens.He not only was a full citizen of Athens, but also belonged to an ancient aristocratic family: his father, Ariston, was a descendant of the last king of Athens Kodra, and his mother, Perictione, accounted relative of Solon.
brief biography of Plato is typical for representatives of his time and class.After receiving the appropriate education of his position, Plato about the age of 20 he became acquainted with the teachings of Socrates and became his disciple and follower.Plato was among the Athenians, who offered a cash surety for the convict to the death of Socrates.Following the execution of a teacher, he left his hometown and went on a journey without a specific goal: first moved to Megara, and then traveled to Cyrene, and even in Egypt.Pocherpnuv everything he could from the Egyptian priests, he went to Italy, where he became friendly with the philosophers of the Pythagorean school.Facts of Life Plato associated with travel, on this end he traveled a lot around the world, but his heart remained an Athenian.
when Plato was about 40 years old (it is noteworthy that it is at this age the Greeks attributed the highest flowering of the personality - acme), he returned to Athens and there opened his own school called the Academy.By the end of the life of Plato almost never left Athens, lived in seclusion, surrounded himself with disciples.He honored the memory of the deceased teacher, but his ideas popularized only in the narrow circle of followers and did not try to bring them to the streets of the policy, like Socrates.Plato died in the age of eighty, without losing clarity of mind.He was buried in the ceramic, near the Academy.This way of life was an ancient Greek philosopher Plato.His biography on closer inspection quite fascinating, but a lot of information about it is very unreliable and more like a legend.
Platonic Academy
name "Academy" comes from the fact that the plot of land that Plato bought specifically for their school near the gymnasium was dedicated to the hero of Acadia.On the territory of the Academy students were not only philosophical discussions and listened to Plato, they were allowed to live there permanently or short time.
Platonism developed on the foundation of the philosophy of Socrates on the one hand and the followers of Pythagoras on the other.At his teacher's father borrowed idealism dialectical view of the world and attention to ethical issues.But as evidenced by the biography of Plato, namely, the years spent in Sicily, among the Pythagoreans, he was clearly sympathetic to the philosophical doctrine of Pythagoras.At least the fact that the philosophers at the Academy of living and working together, is reminiscent of the Pythagorean school.
idea of political education
Much attention was paid to the Academy of political education.But in antiquity policy was not confined to small groups of delegated representatives of: the management policy involving all adult citizens, that is, free and legitimate Athenians.Later, a student of Plato, Aristotle formulate certain policies as a person who participated in the public life of the policy, as opposed to idiotika - antisocial person.That is, participation in politics was an integral part of ancient Greek life, and the political education means the development of justice, generosity, strength of mind and sharpness of mind.
Philosophical Transactions
to a written statement of their views and concepts of Plato mainly choose the form of dialogue.This is a fairly common literary device in ancient times.The philosophical works of Plato's early and late periods of his life are very different, and it is natural because of his accumulated wisdom and views have changed over time.Among the researchers accepted conditionally divide the evolution of Plato's philosophy into three periods:
1. Discipleship (under the influence of Socrates) - "Apology of Socrates", "Creighton," "Foxy", "Protagoras," "Charmides", "Evtifron" and 1 book"States."
2. space (under the influence of the ideas of Heraclitus) - "Gorgias", "Cratylus", "Menon".
3. Teaching (the predominant influence of the ideas of the Pythagorean school) - "Feast", "Phaedo", "Phaedrus", "Parmenides," "Sophist" "Politician", "Timaeus", "Critias", 2-10 of the book "State "," Laws ".
Father idealism
Plato considered the founder of idealism, the term itself is derived from the central concepts in his teaching - Eidos.The point is that Plato imagined a world divided into two spheres: the world of ideas (Eidos) and the world of forms (material things).Eidos - the prototypes, the source of the material world.Matter itself is formless and incorporeal, the world becomes meaningful only outlines thanks to ideas.
dominant place in the world of Eidos is the idea of peace, and it stems from all the others.It is a blessing Getting started, absolute beauty, the Creator of the universe.Eidos every thing - is its essence, the most important secret in humans - is the soul.Ideas are absolute and immutable, their existence flows out of the space-time boundaries, and objects - are impermanent, repeatable and iskazhaemy their life course.
As for the human soul, the philosophical doctrine of Plato's allegory treats it as a chariot with two horses, guided charioteer.It represents a reasonable start in the harness he white horse symbolizes the generosity and high moral qualities, and black - the instincts, basest desires.In the afterlife soul (driver) on a par with the gods involved in the eternal truths and learns Eidos.After the birth of a new concept of eternal truths is in the soul as memories.
Space - the whole existing world, there is a perfect reproduction of the prototype.Plato's doctrine of cosmic proportions also stems from the theory of Eidos.
Beauty and Love - eternal concepts
From all this it follows that the knowledge of the world - is an attempt to see things through the reflection of the ideas of love, justice and beauty business.The doctrine of Beauty is central to the philosophy of Plato: the search for beauty in man and the world, creating beauty through harmonious legislation and art - a higher destiny of man.So, evolving soul goes from the contemplation of the beauty of material things to the understanding of beauty in art and science, to the highest point - the comprehension of the moral beauty.This comes as a revelation to the soul and brings the world of the gods.
along with beauty to raise man to the world eidoses designed to Love.In this regard, the figure of the philosopher is identical to the image of Eros - it tends to good, representing the intermediary conductor from ignorance to wisdom.Love - the creative force of her beautiful things are born and harmonic laws of human relationships.That is love - a key concept in the theory of knowledge, it is gradually developing from the physical (material) to form its soul, and after - the spiritual, which is involved in the sphere of pure ideas.This last love is the memory of a perfect being, a soul saved.
should be emphasized that the division between the world of ideas and things does not mean dualism (which so often subsequently was accused Plato of his ideological opponents, starting with Aristotle), they are related ancestral ties.Genuine being - Eidos level - is eternal, it is self-sufficient.But the matter appears already as an imitation of the idea, it is only "present" in a perfect being.
political views of Plato
biography and philosophy of Plato is inextricably linked to the comprehension of a reasonable and proper government.The teaching of the father of idealism about managing people and relationships described in the treatise "The State."Everything is built on the parallels between the individual parties to the human soul and types of people (according to their social role).
So, three parts of the soul are responsible for wisdom, temperance and courage.In general, these qualities represent justice.It follows that a fair (perfect) state is possible when each person it is in place and performs once and for all established functions (according to their abilities).Under the scheme, outlined in the "State", where a brief biography of Plato, the result of his life and the main ideas are the final incarnation, you have to manage all the philosophers, media wisdom.They are subject to a reasonable start all citizens.The important role played by the soldiers in the state (in other translations guards), these people paid attention.Warriors should cultivate the spirit of the rule of reasonable start and will over instincts and emotional outbursts.But it's not cold machine, which seems to modern man, not blurred by passions understanding of Supreme Harmony in the world.The third category of people - the creators of wealth.Just state it so described schematically and briefly philosopher Plato.Biography of one of the greatest thinkers in human history indicates that his teaching has found a broad response in the minds of his contemporaries - it is known that he had received many requests from the rulers of the ancient polis and some eastern states on the preparation for their legal codes.
Late biography of Plato, taught at the Academy and the apparent sympathy for the ideas of the Pythagoreans associated with the theory of "ideal numbers", which was later developed Platonists.
Myths and beliefs
interested in his position on the myth: as a philosopher, Plato, whose biography and survived the writings clearly indicate the greatest intelligence, did not reject the traditional mythology.But he proposed to interpret the myth as a symbol, allegory, and not perceive it as a kind of axiom.The myth, the idea of Plato, was not a historical fact.He saw the mythical images and events as a kind of philosophical doctrine, which does not pose any event, but only provides food for thought and revaluation of events.In addition, many ancient Greek myths were written by ordinary people without any style or literary treatment.For these reasons, Plato considered appropriate to protect the child's mind from most of the mythological stories, rich fiction, often rude and immoral.
first proof of Plato in the immortality of the human soul
Plato - the first ancient philosopher, whose works have come down to modern times is not fragmented, and with full text.In his dialogue "The State", "Phaedrus", he cites evidence 4 immortality of the human soul.The first one is called "cyclical."Its essence is to ensure that the opposition can only exist if there is mutual dependence.Iemore implies the existence of a smaller, if there is a death, then there is immortality.This fact led Plato as the main argument in favor of the idea of reincarnation.
second proof
is caused by the idea that knowledge is recollection.Plato taught that the human mind, there are concepts such as justice, beauty, belief.These concepts exist "in themselves."They do not teach, they feel and understand at the level of consciousness.They - the absolute essence, eternal and immortal.If a soul is born into the world already knows about them, so she knew about it even before life on Earth.Once the soul is aware of the eternal essence, that means she is eternal.
third argument based on the opposition of the mortal body and an immortal soul.Plato taught that the world is twofold.Body and soul during his life are inextricably linked.But the body - this is a part of nature, while the soul - of the divine.The body strives to meet the base feelings and instincts, as the soul is drawn to the knowledge and development.Body directs the soul.The power of thought and will of man is able to prevail over instincts.Therefore, if the body is mortal and corruptible, the opposition of his soul is eternal and imperishable.If the body can not exist without a soul, so the soul can exist separately.
fourth, final proof
The most difficult teaching.Most vividly it describes the dialogue Socrates and Cebes in the "Phaedo".The proof is based on the allegation that every thing is inherent in its nature unchangeable.So, even always be odd, white and black can not be called anything just never be evil.From this death brings corruption, and life will never know death.If the body is able to die and rot, then the essence of it - death.Life is the opposite of death, the soul is opposed to the body.So, if the body is perishable, the soul - is immortal.
value of Plato
These are outlined ideas that mankind has left a legacy of ancient Greek philosopher Plato.The biography of this extraordinary man for two and a half millennia has become a legend, and his teaching in various aspects, laid the foundation for much of the now existing philosophical concepts.His pupil Aristotle criticized his teacher's eyes, and put his teachings opposite philosophical system of materialism.But this fact - another testimony to the greatness of Plato: not every teacher is given to raise a follower, but a worthy opponent, perhaps only a few.
Plato's philosophy has found many followers in antiquity, the works and knowledge of the main tenets of his teaching was a natural and integral part of the formation of a decent citizen of the Greek polis.Such a significant figure in the history of philosophical thought was not completely forgotten, even in the Middle Ages, when scholars strongly rejected the ancient heritage.Plato inspired philosophers of the Renaissance, giving endless food for thought for the European thinkers of later centuries.The reflection of his teachings can be seen in a variety of existing philosophical and ideological concepts, Plato quotes can be found in all branches of human knowledge.
It looked like a philosopher, his character
Archaeologists found many busts of Plato, preserved since ancient times and the Middle Ages.According to him it created a lot of sketches and photos of Plato.In addition, the appearance of philosophy can be judged by the chronicles.
According to all the data collected on particles Plato was tall, athletically built, broad in the shoulders and bones.The character has a very flexible, he was stripped of pride, swaggering and self-esteem.He was very humble and always kind, not only with their peers, but also with representatives of the lower class.
Greek philosopher Plato, biography and philosophy that does not conflict with each other, personal life by acknowledging the truth of his worldview.
