Plato explained to kids

Plato was a philosopher who lived in Greece from about 428 to 348 BC. He is one of the most important figures in the history of philosophy. Plato's ideas had a big impact on Western philosophy, science, and art. Plato was born into a wealthy family in Athens, Greece. His father, Ariston, was a wealthy aristocrat, and his mother, Perictione, was related to the six previous generations of Athenian kings. Plato's real name was Aristocles, but he was nicknamed "Plato" because of his broad shoulders. As a young man, Plato was a member of the Athenian military. He fought in the Peloponnesian War against Sparta. After the war, Plato became a student of Socrates, one of the most famous philosophers of all time. Socrates had a big influence on Plato's thinking. After Socrates died, Plato traveled to Egypt and Italy. He also spent time in Sicily, where he studied with the Pythagorean philosopher Archytas. In 387 BC, Plato founded the Academy, a school for philosophy and the sciences in Athens. The Academy was one of the most famous schools of its time. Plato taught there for the rest of his life. Plato wrote many philosophical works. His most famous work is The Republic, a book about politics, ethics, and justice. Plato also wrote dialogues, or conversations, between Socrates and other characters. These dialogues are some of the most important works of philosophy ever written. Plato's ideas were very influential in the development of Western philosophy. Many later philosophers, such as Aristotle, Immanuel Kant, and Bertrand Russell, were influenced by Plato's ideas.