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Classical Wisdom Speaks
The Truth About the Life of Plato
Jan 23, 2025
Robin Waterfield, an independent scholar and translator, shares insights from his groundbreaking biography, 'Plato of Athens.' He discusses the challenges Plato faced while influencing political leaders like Dionysius II and questions the authenticity of various letters attributed to him. Waterfield also draws intriguing parallels between Plato’s philosophies and figures such as Marcus Aurelius, while emphasizing the importance of making Plato's ideas accessible today. This enlightening conversation sheds light on the intrigue surrounding the great philosopher's life and legacy.
38:09
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Quick takeaways
- Robin Waterfield's biography 'Plato of Athens' sheds light on Plato's life despite the scarcity of personal autobiographical details.
- The Academy, founded by Plato, blended teaching and social interaction, fostering critical debates that influenced subsequent philosophical thought.
Deep dives
The First Comprehensive Biography of Plato
The podcast highlights the significance of Robin Waterfield's recent work, which is the first full-length biography of the famous philosopher Plato. Despite Plato's enormous influence on Western philosophy, there has been a surprising lack of biographies dedicated to his life, primarily due to the limited autobiographical information available from his writings. Waterfield discusses the challenges in sourcing credible biographical details, pointing out that Plato does not articulate his personal experiences in any of his dialogues. The scarcity of reliable sources, such as his letters, complicates efforts to flesh out a comprehensive narrative of his life, resulting in a focus on major life events like his upbringing in Athens, encounters with Socrates, and founding of the Academy.
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Discover
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Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode