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[[Image:Raphael.jpg|right|thumb|Raphael's depiction of Plato in '''The School of Athens'''.]]

[[Image:Raphael.jpg|right|thumb|Raphael's depiction of Plato in '''The School of Athens'''.]]

'''Plato''' was a great [[Greek philosopher]] who lived from 428 to 347 BC. His family name was Aristocles. He was a friend of [[Socrates]] and founded the Academy, a school bereft of buildings wherein Plato taught his philosophy, which entailed many separate disciplines. He most famous work is [[Republic]], from which Rome and the United States took the name for their system of government. One of Plato's pupils was [[Aristotle]], whose works greatly influenced Aquinas, and much of the [[Magesterium]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. Although Plato cannot be described as a theist, neo-Platonism from the second and third centuries B.C. were a major influence on early Christian teachings.

'''Plato''' was a great [[Greek philosopher]] who lived from 428 to 347 BC. His family name was Aristocles. He was a friend of [[Socrates]] and founded the Academy, a school bereft of buildings wherein Plato taught his philosophy, which entailed many separate disciplines. He most famous work is [[Republic]], from which Rome and the United States took the name for their system of government. One of Plato's pupils was [[Aristotle]], whose works greatly influenced Aquinas, and much of the [[Magesterium]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. Although Plato cannot be described as a theist, neo-Platonism from the second and third centuries B.C. was a major influence on early Christian teachings.

Plato's works are different from the majority of philosophical works in style and structure. He wrote dialogues which combined elements of both Greek tragedy and philosophy. His works are conversational dramas filled with irony and 'hidden' content which only the experienced reader will recognize and understand. And he did not write explicit treatises, instead slowly and indirectly revealing his ideas over the course of dozens of dialogues written across the course of his life through the words of his character.  

Plato's works are different from the majority of philosophical works in style and structure. He wrote dialogues which combined elements of both Greek tragedy and philosophy. His works are conversational dramas filled with irony and 'hidden' content which only the experienced reader will recognize and understand. And he did not write explicit treatises, instead slowly and indirectly revealing his ideas over the course of dozens of dialogues written across the course of his life through the words of his character.