If Thales was the first of all the great Greek philosophers, Plato must remain the best known of all the Greeks. His original name was Aristocles, but in his school days he received the nickname Platon (meaning "broad") because of his broad shoulders. Plato was born in Athens, about 427 B.C., and died there about 347 B.C. In early life Plato saw war service and had political ambitions. However, he was never really in agreeance with the Athenian democracy and could not join sincerely in its government. He was a devoted follower of Socrates, whose student he became in 409 B.C. The execution of that philosopher by the democrats in 399 B.C. was a crushing blow. Plato left Athens, believing that until "kings were philosophers or philosophers were kings" things would never go well with the world.
Like Socrates, Plato was mainly interested in moral philosophy and despised natural philosophy (that is, science) as an
In Plato’s great writing “The Republic” he speaks of what he believes to be an ideal society. Plato invented a new hierarchy, which he thought fit for an almost perfect civil structure. On top was the philosophers, or philosopher/kings. As opposed to having those with the most wealth rule, he saw those with the most intelligence in power as a much stronger and logical way to run a government. Next in the hierarchy was the military, an obvious force needed for a strong empire. With the absolute most intelligent leaders above them, and strong military would be very powerful. On the last level was as Plato liked to refer to them as the “hungry savage-headed monster,” or the common people. Plato saw them as much lower than everyone else. He believed the common man to be one of materialism. The great philosopher/kings would feed the common man “ noble lies” or “clever stories” to deceive th common man. The
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