Plato - Facts for Kids

Early Life & Background

Plato was born about 428 BCE in Athens to a rich and important family. His ancestors were noble and connected to famous leaders.

Some old stories say Plato was really named Aristocles when he was born — and that “Plato” was a nickname meaning “broad,” maybe because he was wide-shouldered or had a broad forehead from wrestling.

Plato grew up during an exciting time in Athens when the city was full of artists, writers, and thinkers who loved to share new ideas.

Plato had two brothers named Glaucon and Adeimantus, and a sister named Potone, who all appeared in his later writings.

Plato’s father, Ariston, came from a noble family, and old stories even claimed they descended from a legendary king of Athens.

Plato's mother, Perictione, came from another important family that included Solon, one of Athens' most famous lawmakers.

Plato grew up in Athens, in a district of the city called Collytus.

As a child in Athens, Plato was trained like other good boys of his time — he learned to wrestle, studied music and poetry, and practiced writing.

Plato's family wanted him to become a politician like many of his relatives, but he chose a different path as a philosopher.

Plato lived during a time when Athens was at war with Sparta, which helped shape his ideas about how cities should be run.

Education & Development

Plato met his famous teacher Socrates when he was about 20 years old, and this meeting changed his whole life.

Plato studied with Socrates for about seven or eight years, learning how to ask clever questions and think deeply about important ideas.

Stories say Plato’s school had a sign saying, “Let no one ignorant of geometry enter,” showing he loved math.

Plato started the Academy in Athens, a school for philosophy, math, and science — often called one of the world’s first universities.

Plato’s school was built in a lovely grove of olive trees just outside Athens — on a piece of land called the “Akadēmeia,” named after a legendary hero, Akademos.

Plato taught that math — especially shapes, numbers, and geometry — is like a secret code for the universe. If you learn math, you can use it to understand the hidden, perfect ideas behind everything you see.

Plato believed that education should start with music and gymnastics to develop both the mind and body.

Plato wrote his ideas down in the form of conversations, which made them easier and more interesting to read.

Career & Achievements

Plato wrote about 35-36 books called "dialogues," which are like plays where characters discuss big ideas.

Plato's most famous book is called "The Republic," where he describes what he thinks would make the perfect city.

Plato started the first Western “school for higher learning,” called the Academy. It lasted for many years — but the original school ended around 86 BCE.

Plato taught Aristotle. Aristotle later became teacher of Alexander the Great.

Plato's writings have been copied and read continuously for over 2,400 years.

Plato wrote about everything from justice and beauty to mathematics and science.

Plato's ideas about government influenced many modern countries' political systems.

Personal Life

Plato never married or had kids — instead, he spent his life teaching, thinking, and writing.

Plato lived to be about 80 years old — that was a good, long life for someone in his time.

Plato thought about dreams and what they might reveal about the soul, using them to explore big ideas.

Impact & Legacy

Plato’s way of thinking about school — mixing learning, doing math and science, training the body, and thinking about big ideas — shaped how schools work for thousands of years after him.

Plato wrote many books where his teacher Socrates talks, asks questions, and argues — so thanks to Plato, we still know what Socrates thought and taught, even though Socrates himself wrote nothing down.

Plato's theories about reality and knowledge still influence philosophers today.

Bonus Fun Facts

Plato believed that music could influence people’s character and behavior.

Plato proposed that the basic “pieces” of nature — like fire, water, air, and earth — could be thought of as perfect geometric shapes made from triangles.

Plato talked about five perfect solid shapes — like the cube and the pyramid — and used them to explain how the world might be built.

Plato created ways to classify different types of government.

Some of the words we still use — like “rhetoric” — seem to go back to Plato’s writings.

Plato travelled to Sicily three times hoping to help build a city ruled by wise, fair leaders.