Educator's , Plato And Socrates

Greek philosopher who was the pupil of Socrates and the teacher of Aristotle - and one of the most influential figures in 'western' thought. He founded what is said to be the first university - his Academy (near Athens) in around 385 BC. Plato's early works (dialogues) provide much of what we know of Socrates (470 - 399BC). In these early dialogues we see the use of the so called Socratic method. This is a question and answer form of arguing with an 'expert' on one side and a 'searcher' on the other. In the dialogues, the questioning of the expert by the 'searcher' often exposes gaps in the reasoning. Part of this can be put down to Plato's dislike of the Sophists (particularly as teachers of rhetoric) and his concern that teachers should know their subject.

The 'middle period' of Plato's work is also characterised by the use of dialogues in which Socrates is the main speaker - but by this point it is generally accepted that it is Plato's words that are being spoken. We see the flowering of his thought around knowledge and the Forms, the Soul (psyche and hence psychology), and political theory (see, especially, The Republic).

The 'late period' dialogues are largely concerned with revisiting the metaphysical and logical assumptions of his 'middle period'.

One of the significant features of the dialogical (dialectic) method is that it emphasizes collective, as against solitary, activity. It is through the to and fro of argument amongst friends (or adversaries) that understanding grows (or is revealed). Such philosophical pursuit alongside and within a full education allows humans to transcend their desires and sense in order to attain true knowledge and then to gaze upon the Final Good (Agathon).

Perhaps the best known aspect of Plato's educational thought is his portrayal of the ideal society in The Republic. He set out in some detail , the shape and curriculum of an education system (with plans for its organization in The Laws). In the ideal state, matters are overseen by the guardian class - change is to be avoided (perfection having already been obtained), and slaves, and craftsmen and merchants are to know their place. It is the guardian class who are educated, merchants and craftsmen serve apprenticeships and slaves...

Plato's relevance to modern day informal educators can be seen at a number of levels. First, he believed, and demonstrated, that educators must ...