Plato? Aristotle? Socrates

Plato was born around the year 428 BC into an established Athenian household with a rich history of political connections. The original name of Plato was Aristocles? but in his school days received the nickname Plato meaning “broad” because of his broad shoulders. In keeping with his family heritage? Plato was destined for the political life. But the Peloponnesian War? which began a couple of years before he was born and continued well after he was twenty; led to the decline of the Athenian Empire. A rabid conservative religious movement that led to the execution of Plato's mentor? Socrates? followed the war. Together these events forever altered the course of Plato's life.

It is difficult to determine the precise chain of events that led Plato to the intricate web of beliefs that unify metaphysics? epistemology? ethics and politics into a single inquiry. The establishment of a government by Sparta and the events that followed dramatically affected the direction of his thinking. The execution of Socrates must have weighted heavily on Plato? who then turned away from politics? somewhat jaded by the unjust behavior of the Thirty? disappointed by the follies of the democracy.

Plato left Attica and spent the next twelve years in travel and study. After 399 BC Plato began to write extensively. The consensus divides Plato's writings into three groups. The first group generally known as the “Socratic” dialogues was probably written between the years 399 to 387. In these dialogues Plato appears to remain relatively close to what the historical Socrates advocated and taught. Plato founded the “Academy” nearly a mile outside the city walls of Athens and named it after the name of Attic hero “Academus”.

Plato's educational system is very different. Most noticeably? it differs from class to class and is not as open to inter-class mobility. Education in some aspects of the Platonic system is aimed at producing perfect soldiers and perfect leaders.

In regards to character? Aristotle commands that he must be “one who succumbs through miscalculation He must also be a person who enjoys great reputation and good fortune?"(51). In assessing the required traits of character the reader finds that it is not necessary for the character to be a person who enjoys great reputation and good fortune.

Aristotle compliments the concept of reversal with that of recognition and further adds that it is? "a change from ignorance to knowledge? bringing about either a state of friendship or one of hostility on the part of those who have been marked out for good fortune or bad?"(50). He also mentions that the most effectual recognition is one that occurs simultaneously with reversal. The third part of plot according to Aristotle is suffering. This state? he maintains? "results from destructive or painful action such as death on the stage? scenes of great pain? the infliction of wounds? and the like?"(50). It is logical that this be present because it will further produce pity and fear. It is now necessary to proceed directly to the final ...