Course Introduction

Plato grew up in Athens two generations after the the Persian Wars (499-449 BCE), a period in which all Athenian citizens were at liberty to arrange their lives as they so chose. Socrates, a generation before him, had decided against money-making in favour of thinking about truth. Though hailing from a much wealthier background than his predecessor, Plato followed suit and became his student. The Republic, along with the Apology, Crito and Phaedo present to us dramatically, in dialogue form, and in Plato's words, the thoughts of Socrates.

       Greek intellectual life flourished at this time...