SOCRATES, PLATO,

AND THE DIALOGUES

By Gerald Thermos

Introduction

Formerly the president of THR Corporation in

Bellflower, California, Gerald Thermos

appreciates the beauty and the historical

contributions of Greek culture. In his blog,

Gerald Thermos posts stunning images from

Greece and wisdom quotes from Socrates, the

ancient philosopher immortalized by the

philosopher Plato.

About Socrates and Plato

Born in Athens in approximately 428 A.D., the philosopher Plato studied under another famed philosopher, Socrates. While Socrates wrote nothing, Plato captured Socrates’ wisdom in a variety of philosophical texts, including the Dialogues.

After the trial and death of Socrates, Plato began to travel and acquire as much knowledge as possible in a quest to ascertain the attributes of an ideal society. He returned to Athens after 12 years and founded the Academy. The philosopher Aristotle numbered among Plato’s students at one of the earliest educational institutions in western civilization. He also influenced such notable scholars as Pythagoras and Parmenides.

Conclusion

A dedicated academic, Plato wrote many

works in the forms of dialogues. His teacher,

Socrates appears in a number of dialogues

and leads his listeners through a series of

guiding questions. The process is known as

the Socratic method and gives readers and

students opportunities to consider diverse

viewpoints.