Plato IntelligenceEssays on Plato

Plato, explained carefully.

272 essays on the dialogues, the ideas and the man — written to be read, cited and checked.

Start here

Neoclassical painted illustration of Plato teaching in the grove of the Academy, students seated around him
Who Is Plato? A Complete Introduction to His Life, Works and IdeasCore Ideas · 929 words
Classical Greek marble sculpture illustrating How to Interpret The Allegory of the Cave
How to Interpret The Allegory of the CaveThe Cave · 1,035 words
Greek philosophical painting representing Plato's Theory of Forms
Plato's Theory of Forms: What It Claims, Why He Held It, and Where It BreaksCore Ideas · 1,171 words

Themes

Core IdeasThe Forms, the soul, knowledge and virtue — the arguments Plato is read for.117 essaysAfterlifeHow Plato was inherited: by Christianity, by Western philosophy, by us.73 essaysLife & TimesAthens, family, war, and the travels that shaped him.21 essaysSocratesThe teacher, the trial, and the problem of telling the two of them apart.26 essaysPoliticsThe just city, the philosopher king, and Plato's quarrel with democracy.19 essaysThe DialoguesThe Republic and the works themselves, read closely.8 essaysThe CaveThe allegory, its machinery, and what the fire and the shadows stand for.8 essays

Recently revised

Core IdeasPlato's Theory of Forms: What It Claims, Why He Held It, and Where It Breaks1,171 w
Life & TimesPlato's Academy: The Institution Plato Founded, and What Became of It972 w
Core IdeasPlato Quotes: What He Actually Said, and What He Didn't955 w
Core IdeasWho Was Cephalus? The Old Man Who Opens Plato's Republic862 w
Core IdeasThe Rational Soul in Plato: Definition, Argument and Examples1,029 w
Core IdeasThe Ring of Gyges: Plato's Thought Experiment About Being Watched890 w
Core IdeasThe Spirited Soul in Plato: Definition, Argument and Examples1,307 w
Core IdeasPlato's Philosophy for Beginners: 10 Big Ideas, Explained Simply1,163 w
The DialoguesHow to Read Plato: A Beginner's Reading Order for the Dialogues975 w
The DialoguesPlato's Symposium: A Summary of All Seven Speeches1,754 w
Core IdeasThe Appetitive Soul in Plato: Definition, Argument and Examples1,398 w
Core IdeasPlatonic Love: What Plato Actually Said in the Symposium2,388 w
Afterlife10 Essential Aspects of Plato’s Educational Legacy911 w
AfterlifeA Critical Review of Plato’s Philosophical Contributions1,015 w
Life & TimesA Review of Plato’s Education and Mentorship995 w
SocratesA Review of Socrates’ Impact on Plato’s Philosophy1,030 w
AfterlifeA Roundup of Modern Interpretations of Plato’s Educational Legacy976 w
AfterlifeA Roundup of Plato’s Influence on Christian Philosophy961 w
Core IdeasA Roundup of Plato’s Key Philosophical Ideas981 w
PoliticsA Roundup of Plato’s Most Notable Works971 w
SocratesA Roundup of Socrates’ Influence on Plato’s Philosophical Journey959 w
AfterlifeArtificial Intelligence and Plato’s Theory of Forms: Can Machines Grasp Universals?433 w
SocratesExploring Plato’s Early Life and Influences822 w
AfterlifeExploring the Historical Significance of Plato’s Educational Legacy958 w