Plato had an enormous influence on the development of Western philosophy. The Athenian thinker came from a prominent family and received an education worthy of his class. At this time, a majority of the aristocratic children of Athens went on to political careers. Plato was disillusioned with politics, in large part due to the condemnation and execution of his teacher Socrates, in 399 B.C. Socrates remained the central influence on Plato's thought, and many of the younger philosopher's works tak more... 

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