Plato (427-347 BCE)
The quest to define what we know and how we know it however begins with Greek philosophers. Plato, born in Athens, Greece, was the student of Socrates (469-399 BCE) and later the teacher of Aristotle. He wrote in the middle of the fourth century B.C.E. in ancient Greece.
Despite having written nothing, Socrates is still considered to have changed how philosophy itself was to be conceived. Information about him is second-hand and strongly disputed, but his trial and death at the hands of the Athenian democracy is nevertheless the founding myth of the academic discipline of philosophy. Plato was influenced by his teacher and mentor Socrates in the same type of system of mentoring used today by experienced teachers who provide guidance to beginning teachers. Socrates believed it is a teacher’s job to propose questions that draw ideas out of a student’s mind that is already there and make them think deeply about their beliefs.
Plato later founded the Academy in 387 B.C. E. where he also taught and became the founder of Western idealism. Plato believed the primary role of the teacher was to bring about an intellectual conversion experience in the learner, create a quiet educational environment that promotes contemplation and reflection and then ask leading questions that provoke critical thinking and self-examination in the students. Plato also believed in the state controlling a citizen’s education from birth to death. He believed children should be taken out of the home during early formation to be raised in state-operated nursery schools from birth to age six. Children aged 6-18 would then attend school with curriculum of music, literature, mathematics, and gymnastics.
Plato’s method of education was as follows:
Elementary - All boys and girls would be educated together. They would study mathematics, literature, poetry, and music until they were eighteen
years of age.
Military Training - The next two years of the youth's life would be devoted to physical education alone. Thereafter, the best youths would be selected for the
higher education given to future guardians of the state.
Higher Education - Between the ages of 20-35, the future guardian would receive a higher education to prepare him for ruling the state. His studies would
include mathematics, music, and literature. At the age of 30 he would have enough maturity to begin his study of philosophy. At 35, his
formal education would cease and he would enter upon a minor administrative position, prior to undertaking more important
governing positions.
Plato’s The Republic examined the pragmatic issue of how people could lead good lives. He compared knowledge to the work of a highly skilled artist. Plato believed that art is copying reality with a copy and poets speak of things they cannot truly know about. The Republic also contained Plato’s famous allegory of the line asserting that knowledge could be understood as a vertical line divided in two unequal segments, which itself is made up of two unequal parts. The lower portion of the vertical line represents the knowledge received through the senses, that is opinions or beliefs. The sensible world is further divided into (1) perceptions of visible objects in this world and (2) images and reflections of those objects. The upper portion of the vertical line represents the intelligible world (the ideas or forms; the essence of reality; grasped by reason). The two further divisions of this realm are (1) the complete knowledge of the Forms and (2) incomplete knowledge. Epistêmê, or true knowledge, only comes at this highest level where what is true and what is real become one.
Plato died in 347 BCE, leaving the Academy to his sister's son. The Academy remained a model for institutions of higher learning until it was closed in 529 BCE by the Emperor Justinian.
Despite having written nothing, Socrates is still considered to have changed how philosophy itself was to be conceived. Information about him is second-hand and strongly disputed, but his trial and death at the hands of the Athenian democracy is nevertheless the founding myth of the academic discipline of philosophy. Plato was influenced by his teacher and mentor Socrates in the same type of system of mentoring used today by experienced teachers who provide guidance to beginning teachers. Socrates believed it is a teacher’s job to propose questions that draw ideas out of a student’s mind that is already there and make them think deeply about their beliefs.
Plato later founded the Academy in 387 B.C. E. where he also taught and became the founder of Western idealism. Plato believed the primary role of the teacher was to bring about an intellectual conversion experience in the learner, create a quiet educational environment that promotes contemplation and reflection and then ask leading questions that provoke critical thinking and self-examination in the students. Plato also believed in the state controlling a citizen’s education from birth to death. He believed children should be taken out of the home during early formation to be raised in state-operated nursery schools from birth to age six. Children aged 6-18 would then attend school with curriculum of music, literature, mathematics, and gymnastics.
Plato’s method of education was as follows:
Elementary - All boys and girls would be educated together. They would study mathematics, literature, poetry, and music until they were eighteen
years of age.
Military Training - The next two years of the youth's life would be devoted to physical education alone. Thereafter, the best youths would be selected for the
higher education given to future guardians of the state.
Higher Education - Between the ages of 20-35, the future guardian would receive a higher education to prepare him for ruling the state. His studies would
include mathematics, music, and literature. At the age of 30 he would have enough maturity to begin his study of philosophy. At 35, his
formal education would cease and he would enter upon a minor administrative position, prior to undertaking more important
governing positions.
Plato’s The Republic examined the pragmatic issue of how people could lead good lives. He compared knowledge to the work of a highly skilled artist. Plato believed that art is copying reality with a copy and poets speak of things they cannot truly know about. The Republic also contained Plato’s famous allegory of the line asserting that knowledge could be understood as a vertical line divided in two unequal segments, which itself is made up of two unequal parts. The lower portion of the vertical line represents the knowledge received through the senses, that is opinions or beliefs. The sensible world is further divided into (1) perceptions of visible objects in this world and (2) images and reflections of those objects. The upper portion of the vertical line represents the intelligible world (the ideas or forms; the essence of reality; grasped by reason). The two further divisions of this realm are (1) the complete knowledge of the Forms and (2) incomplete knowledge. Epistêmê, or true knowledge, only comes at this highest level where what is true and what is real become one.
Plato died in 347 BCE, leaving the Academy to his sister's son. The Academy remained a model for institutions of higher learning until it was closed in 529 BCE by the Emperor Justinian.