PLATO’S CONTRIBUTION TO EDUCATIONAL THOUGHT One of the astounding facts in the history of culture is that the first coherent treatise on government and education which we possess in Western civilization, Plato's Republic, is the most profound. The teacher is thus the constant guide of the students. Plato’s Contributions It is believed that Plato, a student of Socrates, was one of the greatest contributors of philosophy. He is the published author of Republic is perhaps the most known and influential work of Plato on philosophy and politics. However, some attribute the philosophy to Socrates. Socrates is credited as being among the founders of Western Philosophical thought and is often designated as the first moral philosopher by historians. This ultimately led to him becoming a disciple of Socrates. The fictional character of Socrates in the dialogues is an integral part of this period. Plato also made clear that not all citizens of the ideal state possessed the same capacity to realize the "form of the good." Socrates: Athens’ street-corner philosopher Socrates was the big-city philosopher in ancient Athens. Historians cannot find any evidence on Plato’s early education as a child, but seeing as he belonged to an influential aristocratic family from Athens, it’s assumed that he went through the Athenian form of educationthat was oriented towards culture, arts, academics, and intelligence. The Academy was destroyed in 86 BCE after the siege of Athens by the Roman dictator Sulla. There is a fire burning in the hall which the prisoners are ignorant of. Plato advocated state controlled education and is against any form of forced learning. The “reason“ of the soul or rulers or philosopher kings who are intelligent, rational, self-controlled and in love with wisdom and justice. With learnodo he hopes to carry on his educative entertainment he begun 8 years ago. Plato said that only through specialization in one of these duties can disunity between people be erased and a just state be established. For the Greek, a hypothesis must explain the facts; If not, another must be sought. Objects are passed in front of this fire and a shadow is projected onto the wall in front of the prisoners. The concept of forms are central to the philosophy of Plato. His maiden fantasy novel "The Collector of Antiques" is awaiting publication. We use our own and third party cookies to improve your experience and our services; and to analyze your use of our website. REFERENCES Hare, R. M. (1989), Plato’s contributions to education. 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. There is no historical record of the exact time Plato’s school was officially founded, but modern scholars generally agree that the time was mid-380s BCE; after his return. Founder of the Academy in Athens. The inward/outward looking nature of the field of philosophy ofeducation alluded to above makes the task of delineating the field, ofgiving an over-all picture of the intellectual landscape, somewhatcomplicated (for a detailed account of this topography, see Phillips1985, 2010). Throug… Late Period – most famous creative works of this period are Parmenides and Theaetetus. 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). As Charles Hummel puts it in his excellent introductory essay (see below), the educator, ‘must never be a mere peddler of materials for study and of recipes for winning disputes, nor yet for promoting a career. Children enter school at six where they first learn the three Rs (reading, writing and counting) and then engage with music and sports. In his Republic we find just about the most influential early account of education. In his work Republic, Plato is said to have demonstrated this concept of the Forms in an illustration called The Allegory of the Cave. In Republic, education is considered only second to justice for the creation of an ideal state. Although Socrates was an influential thinker during his times, he did not write down any of his teachings. Aristotle Education and Plato. Plato’s Republic, a dialogue known and studied by many for its deep teachings in knowledge and education. Following on from the division of labor and the three main types of people in society, Plato … Plato's educational philosophy was grounded in a vision of an ideal Republic wherein the individual was best served by being subordinated to a just society due to a shift in emphasis that departed from his predecessors. We see the importance of exercise and discipline, of story telling and games. Plato for the most part wrote in dialogues in which characters discuss a subject analyzing and dissecting it from various viewpoints. The “appetite“ of the soul or the workers that produce for consumption like the laborers, merchants, farmers etc. It is said that his Academy trained some of the most prominent mathematicians of ancient Europe like Eudoxus, Theaetetus and Archytas. He believed that for many things to be done at the same time, it required availability of some people fixed for some tasks. If the appetitive component is too strong, we would have an unhealthy soul with too much greed and lust. Suffice it to say that some philosophers, as well asfocusing inward on the abstract philosophical issues that concernthem, are drawn outwards to discuss or comment on issues that are morecommonly regarded … Forms are used throughout the work of Plato to explain concepts of knowledge, justice and many others. Know more about the influence of Plato on philosophy through his 10 major contributions. The role and significance of education with regard to political and social institutions is a subject that has interested political philosophers for millennia. The aim of education, according to Plato, is the welfare of both the individual and the society. Essentially a Socratic dialogue on Justice, Republic explores a philosophical conversation between 6 men on an ideal state (Republic) that would serve as a template for all existing and emerging societies. Hence, every person would know his duty and his responsibility. The concept talks of an ideal world of Forms which are mimicked in the false world of phenomena. If we were too spirited, we would become overly aggressive. Although Plato was not a mathematician himself, he was among the important patrons of the subject in ancient Greece. They could be fictional, but they had to teach children strong, moral values. 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. 3. He discussed the philosophy of mathematics, po - Magical Potion for Perfect History (Innovative Education) He reasoned that the society be divided into three classes: 1. Plato believed that true knowledge may only be derived from world of ideal and timeless forms. In this philosophical fiction 7 characters give speeches in the praise of Eros, the god of love and desire. What was Socrates contribution to education? He thought that people essentially serve their own self-interests, they organize and support each other as it seems to be in one’s self-interest. Although Plato's Republic is best known for its definitive defense of justice, it also includes an equally powerful defense of philosophical education. In Republic, education is considered only second to justice for the creation of an ideal state. 10 Major Accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr. 10 Major Accomplishments of Benjamin Franklin, 10 Major Causes of the American Revolution, 10 Major Battles of the American Revolutionary War, 10 Major Leaders of the American Revolution, 10 Interesting People From The American Revolution, 10 Major Events of the American Revolution, 15 Degrees Off Your Heart | Short Stories With Twist Endings, Happiness Decoded | Crucify Negativity to stay in a Good Mood. 2. Plato tells the allegory in the context of education; it is ultimately about the nature of philosophical education, and it offers an insight into Plato’s view of education. According to Plato, individual justice can be obtained when each individual develops his or her ability to the fullest. The Academy was founded in 385 BCE, and, with the exception of a period of house arrest, Plato oversaw the institution until he died. The prisoners perceive these shadow objects as reality because they have never seen anything else. You have entered an incorrect email address! Education is looked upon as the art of orientation and educators are encouraged to device simple methods to align learning in the right direction. Try The Republic. However there is an ideal and perfect chair and justice in the ideal world of Forms. Born in Athens or Aegina between 429 and 423 BC Had 36 dialogues (books) & 13 letters (The Republic) - talks about Uthopian society Giving readers the sense of philosophy as a living & unfinished subject; to which they will contribute to finish As a result, he proposed distinct educational programs for future artisans, auxiliaries, and philosopher-kings. It is estimated that Plato was born in Athens, Greece around the year 428 in fifth century BCE. It attracted many brilliant men including Theaetetus (mathematician), Eudoxus of Cnidus (mathematician) and Aristotle (philosopher). Contributions Of Plato And Cicero To Education. Through the life of Aristotle, one would wonder how a mere thought of philosophy could impact the way education is practiced today as we know it. Not only does Socrates (Plato's mouthpiece in the dialogue) posit two differing visions of education (the first is the education of the warrior guardians and the second is the philosopher-kings' education), but he also provides a more subtle account of education through th… It is also a model of the ‘learning society’ – the polis is serviced by educators. In his work Symposium, Plato offers insight into the philosophy of love and beauty. He thought that every individual had different natural ability and therefore was suited to one occupation as another may be suited to something else. He was a proponent of state-controlled, compulsory education and a strong detractor of forced learning. The most famous of the Socratic Dialogues is the Apology in which the character of Socrates defends his beliefs against the charges of the Athenian court. Almost 500 years later in 410 AD a revived Neoplatonic Academy was established as a center for Neoplatonism and mysticism until 529 when it was closed down by the Christian Emperor Justinian I, who claimed it was a pagan establishment. Plato’s 10 Major Contributions And Accomplishments, #1 He is credited with establishing the first university in Europe, #2 He gave us an insight into the philosophical teachings of Socrates, #3 He wrote numerous philosophical discussions which continue to be debated, A majority of Plato’s work is in the form of dialogues, which many a times, #4 He came up with the influential Theory of Forms, #5 He came up with epistemology or theory of knowledge, #6 His work Republic is regarded as a cornerstone of western philosophy, #9 He came up with the influential concept of Platonic Love, #10 He was a leading mentor of Mathematics of his time, Although Plato was not a mathematician himself, he was among the, There is a dark cave where people have been chained to a wall since birth. The sciences handled so far (geometry, arithmetic, astronomy, harmony) were the fundamental fields of investigation within the enclosure. © Mark K. Smith First published May 8, 1997, Last Updated on January 7, 2013 by infed.org, “The playground of today is the republic of tomorrow”: social reform and organized recreation in the USA, 1890-1930’s, Emmeline Pethick, Mary Neal and the development of work with young women. His guiding principle is that, “Nothing must be admitted in education which does not conduce to the promotion of virtue. We see in his work the classical Greek concern for body and mind. In these early dialogues we see the use of the so called Socratic method. Education Details: One of Socrates ' contribution to education was the Socratic Method.This method is used to expose the underlying issues in the speaker and subject in classrooms and in law school. Plato also contributed to the idea of structured stages of education (for example, having an elementary school, and then a higher school). In this sense, justice means excellence. In Republic, the four virtues of courage, wisdom, temperance and justice are recommended for a good community and among them Plato reasons that justice is the most important. Plato is the first western philosopher to theorize and put in practice through the establishment of Academy, the concept of institutionalizedpublic education system in … One of the significant features of the dialogical (dialectic) method is that it emphasizes collective, as against solitary, activity. There have been many controversies regarding the authenticity of Plato’s work and as with anything else, information must always be accepted with a skeptical and open mind. Each man’s soul had a previous existence in an ideal world, which Plato called ‘the world of ideas’. Plato’s philosophy of education strives to achieve all that Plato is concerned with: a functioning just state and eudaimonia. The prisoners. He is like torch bearer who leads a man lying in the dark cave, out of the darkness into the bright light of the outside world. One should have the love of wisdom as the next step, and finally be able to love and appreciate the divine beauty. Consequently, education was something Plato would often talk about, it played a large role in the Allegory of the Cave and can be used as a topic of discussion in schools. Plato’s teacher Socrates is mostly the central character in these writings with subjects usually centered around Socrates’ lessons. - Answers. Plato (1955) The Republic, London: Penguin ((translated by H. P. D. Lee). Plato's beliefs on education, however, are difficult to discern because of the intricacies of the dialogue. After the death of Socrates, Plato may have traveled extensively in Greece, Italy, and Egypt, though on such particulars the evidence is uncertain.The followers of Pythagoras (c. 580–c. Plato once stated that the main function of education is not to put knowledge into the soul, but to bring out the latent talents in the soul by directing it towards the right objects. During this era, the character of Socrates still remains a fictional vehicle to argue philosophical concepts but he starts to recede into the background. Plato continues to use his dialogues to explore philosophical concepts such as government, love and the soul. He discussed a whole range of philosophical topics including ethics, metaphysics where topics such as immortality, man, mind, and Realism are discussed. He also considered different teaching methods and questioned what should be included in a curriculum. Plato advocated state controlled education and is against any form of forced learning. Knowledge, however, could only be attained through the use of dialectic to shed all assumptions and to glean the first principle of all, the "form of the good." Many scholars accredit The Academy as the first university founded in Europe. (The process is called anamnesis, which means un-forgetting.) Scholars typically organize Plato’s works into three different eras:-. Plato’s education of music, gymnastics, mathematics and dialectics in the Republic helps to ensure that these three components of the soul are in harmony with each other. He argues that knowledge is inherently present in a person’s soul and is shrouded by their perception of reality. Taking a simple example of a physical object like a chair or a concept like justice, it can be loosely said that we experience an imperfect chair and imperfect justice in the phenomena or the material world we exist in. Second, there is the ‘Socratic teaching method’. The theory and application of the hypothesis was improved by Plato, to give him a level of force necessary to be a fundamental part of all research. Plato identified the human need as the fundamental cause of association. Plato regards education as a means to achieve justice, both individual justice and social justice. You can’t begin a study of world philosophy without talking about these guys: the Big Three ancient Greek philosophers. The ‘late period’ dialogues are largely concerned with revisiting the metaphysical and logical assumptions of his ‘middle period’. Perhaps the best known aspect of Plato’s educational thought is his portrayal of the ideal society in The Republic. Plato on education. At 50 they are ready to rule. Accused and convicted of corrupting the youth, […] Socrates is thus known through the writings of his contemporaries like Antisthenes and Aristippus or his students like Xenophon and Plato, among others. All Rights Reserved. It is here that we see the power of dialogue – the joint exploration of a subject – ‘knowledge will not come from teaching but from questioning’. Plato explores various viewpoints through these characters. In the dialogues, the questioning of the expert by the ‘searcher’ often exposes gaps in the reasoning. Plato favored mathematics as a precise and abstract model for the development of thought in the future rulers of the just state. Plato claims it as an example of recollection with the ultimate truths in a past life or knowledge by contemplation rather than observation. This theme of education as a rediscovery of knowledge was based on a metaphysical philosophy held by Plato about man and his soul. Although other sources portray a different Socrates, Plato’s “dialogues” are a vital source for understanding Socrates. 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. The Akademia or the Academy was a school outside the city walls of ancient Athens. 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