KNTV PHILOSOPHY

PLATO (c.427-347BC)

The father of modern philosophy, Ancient Greek philosopher Plato founded the first university and published his ideas of a perfect society that still have people arguing today.

PROGRAMME OUTLINE

00:00 – 03:04

The modern world has the ancient Greeks to thank for philosophy, democracy and the Olympic Games.

03:05 – 06:50
WHAT was Plato's big idea?

Plato wanted to create an ideal government. His book The Republic, outlined his vision for a perfect society, and in it he criticised many types of government and set high ideals for political leaders called philosopher kings who, he said, should have years of intensive training. Educated leaders who could control their natural desires and put their physical and mental energies into governing, would create a balanced and virtuous society.

06:51 – 11:28
WHO was Plato?

Plato became a famous teacher and established the first university, called The Academy. He liked to wrestle with students, and his name means 'broad-shouldered one'. He was extremely wise, and thought that knowledge should be exchanged orally, rather than being written down. He developed the 'dialectic' method of exploring a subject, in which one question is answered with another.

11:29 – 15:04
WHEN Plato was around, what else was going on?

Public-speaking, music, dance and theatre were all important elements of life in ancient Greece. Women were expected to stay in the home. The ancient Greeks invented the Olympic Games. The baton in the relay race was a flaming torch, and athletes competed naked. Men went to the barber's shop for a haircut and a gossip, and were considered to be in their youth until the age of 30.

15:05 – 18:59
WHY did Plato's ideas happen?

The philosopher Socrates, who was put to death by the Athenian government, was a huge influence on Plato. Greek government was in a mess. The cruel Draco (659-601BC) had set up harsh laws, and after him a chaotic form of democracy made the government even less stable. When the ruthless Spartans invaded Athens, Plato left, but he didn't encounter an effective government anywhere on his travels and this inspired him to develop his own ideas.

Plato explained some of his ideas using the Cave Allegory, in which chained prisoners think a shadow is real – until one of them is released, and can see that the shadows are created by real people.

19:00 – 24:00
WHERE have Plato's ideas left us now?

Plato's words have been in print for two-and-a-half-thousand years, and have had profound effects on political thought. He was the first to stand up for equality for women. He founded the first university, where students could open their minds, and his ideas on what constitutes a civilised society have influenced thinkers down the centuries.