Born c. 428 bc, Plato, amongst the most influential philosophers of Classical Greece, played a major role in shaping Western thought. A student of the famed philosopher Socrates, he was the teacher of the equally influential philosopher Aristotle, a student at the Academy founded by Plato. Considered the world's first university of philosophy, the Academy is where Plato propagated his philosophical ideas. The first to relate philosophy with polity, Plato is known for his Dialogues, considered to mark the beginning of Western philosophy. Some of his influential works are Republic (380 bc), Apology (399 bc) and Symposium (c. 380-375 bc). His major ideas include Platonic Love, Theory of Mimesis and Plato's Cave. Plato is believed to have died c. 424 bc, and is buried in the grounds of his Academy.
The Republic by Plato is a Socratic dialogue, written around 380 BC; it is one of the most influential works of political philosophy. As is the norm in Socratic dialogue, here too, Socrates is the main speaker who engages in dialogue with other Athenians on the idea of justice. The central question that Plato addresses is “What is justice?” both at the individual and political levels. He supplements his ethical question with the secondary question “What is the relation of justice to happiness?” He furthers his argument with examples of a just city (Kallipolis) as well as through discussions of different modes of justice, virtues and vices, the importance of a philosophical king, amongst other ideas. Since mid-19th century, The Republic has remained one of Plato’s widely read dialogues and continues to influence political thought.
