The Symposium Free Audiobook Download

Author : Plato

Plato (c. 427 – 348 BC), originally named Aristocles, was an esteemed ancient Greek philosopher who emerged during the Classical period and is regarded as a pivotal figure in Western philosophy. He is renowned for his innovative use of written dialogue and dialectic methods, which he employed to explore profound questions across both theoretical and practical philosophy. As the founder of the Platonic Academy in Athens, Plato taught principles that would come to define Platonism, including his influential theory of forms that addresses the problem of universals. His thoughts were shaped by earlier pre-Socratic philosophers such as Pythagoras, Heraclitus, and Parmenides, and he stands alongside his teacher Socrates and his student Aristotle as a cornerstone of philosophical thought. Remarkably, his works have endured largely intact for over 2,400 years, continuously engaging scholars and influencing subsequent thought, including Christianity and Islamic philosophy. Alfred North Whitehead famously noted that the European philosophical tradition is largely a series of footnotes to Plato, underscoring his lasting impact.