Plato was born in Athens, Greece in 427 BCE. He was the son of Ariston and Perictione, both of whom were members of the aristocracy. His father died when Plato was a child, and he was raised and educated by his mother and her family.

Plato was a student of Socrates and was deeply influenced by his teachings. After Socrates' death in 399 BCE, Plato traveled to Italy, Sicily, and Egypt, where he studied mathematics and philosophy. Upon his return to Athens, he founded the Academy, which became a model for Western institutions of higher learning. The Academy was a place where philosophers, politicians, and scholars could discuss and debate ideas, and it attracted some of the most brilliant minds of the time, including Aristotle, who later became Plato's student.

Plato's philosophy was based on the idea of the eternal and unchanging nature of the universe, which he believed could be understood through contemplation and reason. He believed in the existence of an eternal, perfect world, which he referred to as the "World of Forms," and that the world we see around us is only a shadow or imitation of this higher reality. Plato also believed in the concept of the immortal soul and that it was the source of all knowledge and understanding.

Plato's works include a number of dialogues featuring Socrates as the main character, as well as a number of treatises on various philosophical and political subjects. Some of his most famous works include The Republic, which discusses the nature of justice and the ideal state; The Symposium, a dialogue on the nature of love; and The Apology, which is an account of the trial of Socrates.

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