Plato was born into an aristocratic Greek family between 428 and 427 BC. At the age of twenty, he became a disciple of the philosopher Socrates. Socrates continued to have a huge influence on Plato throughout his life. Plato was an idealist and believed that everything we see in this world is a less accurate representation of what its true form should be. He believed in a world of unchanging, unrelated forms that corresponded to universal definitions. This belief led to his theory of forms and became an essential part of his philosophy. Plato demonstrated this idea in one of his most popular works called The Republic. The Republic is concerned with the education of guards. Plato discusses the principles of a state based on knowledge and reason and not just opinion or the desire for power. In the Republic, Plato abolishes the family for guardians, in order to avoid nepotism and the accumulation of private wealth (Republic, book 5, 464). Wives and children are to be held in common by all, and no parent is to know his own child nor any child his parents – “provided it is possible” (Republic, book 5, 457). Plato pays great attention to the education of the child as a future citizen. As such, he believes that the child belongs to the state and that his education is the responsibility of the state (Republic, bk. 2, 376.) After Socrates' execution, Plato renounced all political involvement and turned to writing and education. . In 385 BC. BC, Plato returned to Athens and founded the school of philosophy called the Academy. The Academy will be recognized as the world's premier research and higher education institution (it existed until 529 AD). The Academy only accepted advanced students with knowledge of geometry...... middle of paper ......tion to prepare him to lead the state. His studies would include mathematics, music and literature. At thirty years old, he will be mature enough to begin his studies in philosophy. At thirty-five, his formal education would cease and he would take a minor administrative position, before accepting more important government positions.BIBLIOGRAPHYPlato. 1941 [385 BCE]. Plato's Republic. Trans. Francis Macdonald Cornford. New York: Oxford University Press. Plato. 1970 [348 BCE]. The laws. Trans. Trevor J. Saunders. Harmondsworth, UK: Penguin. Scolnicov, Samuel. 1988. Plato's Metaphysics of Education. London: Routledge.Internet ResourcesIn Dialogue: the Life and Works of Plato, a short podcast by Peter Adamson (Philosophy, Kings College London). Plato (c. 428-347 BC) Plato Page. http://www.connect.net/ron/plato.html.