Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle: collectively, these men are arguably the three most significant philosophers in the history of western philosophy. Their influence upon the subsequent development of western philosophy cannot be overstated. Plato was, as we know, both pupil of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle. Yet the influence of each teacher upon his respective student is anything but clear. Aristotle implies a significant philosophic difference between Socrates and Plato. Yet Aristotle, who was born fifteen years after the death of Socrates, had no firsthand account of the teachings of Socrates, and learned of this philosopher mainly through Plato. More than two millennia later the exact relationship between the philosophy of Socrates and that of Plato is still uncertain, and it is this uncertainty that leads to questions of interpretation.
As with the examination of any text, the question of interpretation plays a significant role in the understanding of Plato's dialogues. The problem of interpretation stems from the fact that Plato chose to express philosophical views in dialogue form and that any philosophical views put forth in the dialogues are expressed by characters and not directly by the author himself. The question of the proper interpretation of the dialogues is a lively and current debate based upon several factors, including the proper chronology of the dialogues, whether the dialogues in general and the character of Socrates in particular represent Plato's philosophical views, whether the dialogues are accurate representations of the historical Socrates, and Plato's intended purpose for writing each dialogue.
Before any of Plato's works can be explained and considered, it is necessary to know his background. Plato was initially born into a political family in Athens, though he never felt in place in politics. After some time participating in wrestling, he spoke with Socrates.
