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 an enormous 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 entitled The Republic. The Republic deals with the education of guardians. Plato discusses the principles of the state which is based on knowledge and reason and not just opinion or the desire for power. In the Republic Plato abolishes the family for guardians, to avoid nepotism and the accumulation of private wealth (Republic, book 5, 464). Wives and children must be held in common by all, and no parent must know his own child, nor any child his parents, "provided this is possible" (Republic, book 5, 457). Plato pays much 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, book 2, 376). After Socrates' execution, Plato renounced all involvement with politics and devoted himself to writing and education. . In 385 BC Plato returned to Athens and founded the school of philosophy called the Academy. The Academy will be recognized as the world's first institution of research and higher education (it existed until 529 AD). The Academy accepted only advanced students who possessed knowledge of geometry...... middle of paper ......tion to prepare him to rule the state. His studies would include mathematics, music and literature. At the age of thirty he would have had sufficient maturity to begin his studies in philosophy. At thirty-five, his formal education will cease and he will enter a minor administrative position, before taking on more senior government positions. BIBLIOGRAPHY Plato. 1941 [385 BC]. Plato's Republic. Trans. Francis Macdonald Cornford. New York: Oxford University Press.Plato. 1970 [348 BC]. 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 (ca. 428-C.-347 BC) Plato page. http://www.connect.net/ron/plato.html.