Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Plato’s name, and other matters
1, Name or nickname
There is a minor tradition that “Plato” was a nickname, while the philosopher’s real name was Aristocles, which is his paternal grandfather’s name. It is credible, but other explanations are unconvincing.
2. Facts and factoids
Both Plato’s father and his mother came from old Athenian families. Anti-democratic sympathizers brought about a coup and set up a government of 30. Plato thus came from a family divided by the civil war.
We don’t know Plato’s own political views; It is plausible that he was alienated from the restored democracy by Socrates’ execution under it.
3. Different interpretations
Someone says Plato was a genius, he was “the son of Apollo”. Somebody altogether out of the ordinary, with talents that transcend the historical circumstances of his birth and upbringings.
The utterly different one fits our ways of thinking better to see Plato’s philosophy as politically, which has seemed more credible and appealing.
4.Socrates and the Academy
Two relatively firm points in approaching Plato: ① The great influence on him of Socrates; ② His funding of the Academy, the first philosophical school.
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