Platón
Platón: The Philosopher-King of Ancient Greece
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Platón (c. 428-348 BCE) is the Romanized form of his name in Latin, while in Greek it is written Πλάτων (Plátōn). He was also known as Platon or Plato.
Birth and Death Dates
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Plato's birthdate is estimated to be around 428 BCE in Athens, Greece. The exact date of his death is not certain but is believed to be between 348-347 BCE.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Nationality: Greek
Profession(s): Philosopher, Mathematician, Writer, Teacher
Early Life and Background
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Plato was born into an aristocratic Athenian family. His real father was Ariston, but it is said that his mother, Perictione, claimed descent from the early kings of Athens. This noble heritage would later influence Plato's views on government and leadership.
Growing up in a time of great cultural and philosophical change, Plato was exposed to some of the most influential minds of ancient Greece. He was particularly drawn to the teachings of Socrates, who became his mentor and a central figure in his own philosophical development.
Major Accomplishments
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Plato's work had a profound impact on Western philosophy. Some of his major accomplishments include:
Establishing the Academy in Athens, one of the earliest institutions of higher learning in the world.
Developing the theory of forms, which posits that abstract concepts like justice and beauty have a more fundamental existence than physical objects.
Contributing to the development of Western philosophy through his written dialogues, many of which feature Socrates as the main character.Notable Works or Actions
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Plato's most notable works are his written dialogues, which explore various philosophical topics such as metaphysics, epistemology, and politics. Some of his most famous dialogues include:
The Republic, which explores the nature of justice and the ideal society.
The Symposium, which examines the concept of love and its relationship to beauty and truth.
The Apology, a defense of Socrates against charges brought by the Athenian state.
Impact and Legacy
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Plato's impact on Western philosophy is immense. He laid the foundations for many later philosophical movements, including Neoplatonism, Aristotelianism, and Stoicism. His ideas have influenced some of history's greatest thinkers, from St. Augustine to Immanuel Kant.
Plato's emphasis on reason, knowledge, and the pursuit of wisdom has shaped Western culture in profound ways. His written dialogues continue to be studied and admired for their philosophical insights and literary craftsmanship.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Plato is widely quoted and remembered for his:
Philosophical insights: Plato's ideas on metaphysics, epistemology, and politics have had a lasting impact on Western thought.
Literary skill: His written dialogues are renowned for their beauty, depth, and philosophical complexity.
* Influence on history: Plato's teachings have shaped the development of many later philosophical movements and continue to inspire new generations of thinkers.
Overall, Plato's life and work embody the ideals of reason, wisdom, and intellectual curiosity that he advocated throughout his writings.
Quotes by Platón
My father is an architect, so I often think like a designer or an architect. I remember when I was admiring buildings, I would look up at them and see this perspective and this awesome power of the monument in front of me.
Mugabe had a very strange quality about him. He was dapper. He had the strangest skin - it looks very shiny, but it's not oily. It's stretched very finely over his flesh. His eyes have layers of cyan crystals in them. It was a quiet, dark moment when I took his picture.
I've been one of the image-makers who created this concept of perfection. I've done a thousand magazine covers where I'm celebrating Hollywood, glamorous people. Which is all good. It's all entertainment.
I'm not a politician or a scholar or political historian. I'm just a photographer who's trying to capture a spirit. It's not an intellectual process; it's an intuitive process.
I always wanted to be the underdog. For me, as a portrait photographer, it's the kiss of death to become well known. I did my best work when no one knew who I was. People weren't threatened by me because they didn't think I was a big deal.
Perhaps the most important people that I should photograph are the people who don't have a voice.
People are at their best when they can be natural. And that's the hardest thing as a photographer.
I'm a portrait photographer that's used to shooting celebrities, and I usually need time and all kinds of lights and a studio to set up my shots.
I am not a photojournalist and certainly not used to the Jason Bourne type stuff that some photographers have to deal with.
I do have my own personal convictions and values, and I live by those. But as an artist, as a portrait photographer, my job is to tell the truth and to capture someone's spirit on a certain day. And it's never the whole truth; it's the truth I experience in a very intense and intimate fashion.