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'''Socrates (469-399 B.C.) was the first great teacher at the Academy'''.  He advocated the improvement of one's soul, concentrating on ethics.  He was constantly urging students to doubt and question things, and his "Socratic method" set the standard used in American law schools today, whereby the professor asks a series of questions of the students and they are expected to provide correct answers.  But Socrates ultimately fell out of favor with the Athenian state for refusing to bow to its will.  He questioned the actions of leaders during the Peloponnesian War (there was no right of free speech then), and several of his students were implicated in bad conduct.  He was charged with impiety and corruption of the youth.  Socrates was executed by being forced to drink poison hemlock, thereby becoming the greatest pagan martyr in the history of the world.  Some even suggest that Jesus's reference in connection with his Crucifixion to "Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"<ref>John 18:11 (NIV).</ref> to be an allusion to Socrates' death by being forced to drink poison.  Socrates left no writings.

'''Socrates (469-399 B.C.) was the first great teacher at the Academy'''.  He advocated the improvement of one's soul, concentrating on ethics.  He was constantly urging students to doubt and question things, and his "Socratic method" set the standard used in American law schools today, whereby the professor asks a series of questions of the students and they are expected to provide correct answers.  But Socrates ultimately fell out of favor with the Athenian state for refusing to bow to its will.  He questioned the actions of leaders during the Peloponnesian War (there was no right of free speech then), and several of his students were implicated in bad conduct.  He was charged with impiety and corruption of the youth.  Socrates was executed by being forced to drink poison hemlock, thereby becoming the greatest pagan martyr in the history of the world.  Some even suggest that Jesus's reference in connection with his Crucifixion to "Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"<ref>John 18:11 (NIV).</ref> to be an allusion to Socrates' death by being forced to drink poison.  Socrates left no writings.

'''Socrates' greatest student was Plato (428-347 B.C.)'''.  Born as a nobleman, Plato was fascinated with the power of reason and developed a philosophy based on reason rather than experience.  He felt the essence of the world was abstract universals or "forms" or "ideas", such as justice and truth and the Good.  Plato was particularly interested in physics and mathematics.  His writing style was in the form of dialogs.  Early Christians made use of Plato's work.

'''Socrates' greatest student was Plato (428-347 B.C.)'''.  Born as a nobleman, Plato was fascinated with the power of reason and developed a philosophy based on reason rather than experience.  '''He felt the essence of the world was abstract universals or "forms" or "ideas", such as justice and truth and the Good'''.  Plato was particularly interested in physics and mathematics.  His writing style was in the form of dialogs.  Early Christians made use of Plato's work.

Plato's greatest work was his book called "The Republic," which forms the foundation for the American republican system of government.  The people typically do not vote directly on issues, but elect representatives who then cast hopefully more informed votes on legislation.  In the ideal state of government imagined by Plato, philosophers ruled the country.

'''Plato's greatest writing was his book called "The Republic," which forms the foundation for the American republican system of government'''.  Under this system, the people typically do not vote directly on issues, but elect representatives who then cast hopefully more informed votes on legislation.  In the ideal state of government imagined by Plato, philosophers ruled the country.

Plato's finest student was Aristotle, perhaps the greatest philosopher of all time.  Aristotle lived from 384-322 B.C., and wrote a treatise that is still taught in the finest university philosophy departments.  Aristotle came to the Academy when he was 17 and remained there until the death of Plato twenty years later.  But Aristotle's approach was the opposite of Plato's: Aristotle thought experience was the key to knowledge, and embarked on the massive task of observing and compiling as much information as possible.  In contrast to Plato's interest in physics and math, Aristotle was fascinated by biology and classified over 500 animal species.  He ultimately founded his own school, the Lyceum, and equipped it with specimens, libraries, maps and other accouterments found in modern universities.  Less impressive was how Aristotle defended the usefulness of slavery.

Plato's finest student was Aristotle, perhaps the greatest philosopher of all time.  Aristotle lived from 384-322 B.C., and wrote a treatise that is still taught in the finest university philosophy departments.  Aristotle came to the Academy when he was 17 and remained there until the death of Plato twenty years later.  But Aristotle's approach was the opposite of Plato's: Aristotle thought experience was the key to knowledge, and embarked on the massive task of observing and compiling as much information as possible.  In contrast to Plato's interest in physics and math, Aristotle was fascinated by biology and classified over 500 animal species.  He ultimately founded his own school, the Lyceum, and equipped it with specimens, libraries, maps and other accouterments found in modern universities.  Less impressive was how Aristotle defended the usefulness of slavery.