Plato (Greek: "wide, broad-shouldered") (428/427 BC - 348/347 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher, the second of the great trio of ancient Greeks -Socrates, Plato, originally named Aristocles, and Aristotle- who between them laid the philosophical foundations of Western culture. Plato was also a mathematician, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the western world. Plato is widely believed to have been a student of Socrates and to have been deeply influenced by his teacher's unjust death. Plato's brilliance as a writer and thinker can be witnessed by reading his Socratic dialogues. Some of the dialogues, letters, and other works that are ascribed to him are considered spurious. Plato is thought to have lectured at the Academy, although the pedagogical function of his dialogues, if any, is not known with certainty. They have historically been used to teach philosophy, logic, rhetoric, mathematics, and other subjects about which he wrote.

Other Books of Plato:
. The Republic (-380)
. Apology (-400)
. Symposium (-400)
. Charmides (-400)
. Protagoras (-400)
. Statesman (-400)
. Ion (-400)
. Meno (-400)
. Crito (-400)
. Laches (-400)

Introduction: the thirty; Faction; A Spartan utopia?; The philosopher and the king; A political work?; City and soul; Mathematics and metaphysics; A guide to further reading; Principal dates; Abbreviations and conventions; Editor's synopsis of The Republic; The Republic: Book 1; Book 2; Book 3; Book 4; Book 5; Book 6; Book 7; Book 8; Book 9; Book 10.