Plato

Modified: 2025-01-08 11:29 AM


The "big three" of Greek philosophy are Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Socrates left no writings but Plato, in his early dialogues, gives an excellent summary of Socrates's philosophy. Plato was primarily a rationalist who believed that knowledge was already in the mind. However, only philosophers such as he, could introspect successfully. Plato's best student, Aristotle is discussed elsewhere in these pages.


Plato (pp. 32-33)

Whitehead (1978) probably overstated Plato’s eventual contribution to philosophy when he wrote (p. 39), “The safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato.”


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