Essay Samples on Plato

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Many college students have heard about Plato’s famous “The Republic” and may even quote several phrases from this ancient philosopher, yet writing an essay on Plato and the specific works may be much more challenging. The trickiest part is finding the right balance between personal analysis and the quotes that you use. As a way to make it easier for you, we recommend checking our free Plato essay that shows how it must be done free of charge. You can take our paper as an outline and learn about how an idea is introduced first, then supported with reliable evidence before it ends up with an analytical part. It does take some time to get things right, yet once you master this rule, your assignments will seem easier to you.

Formation of Political Theories Using Ideas of Great Philosophers

Politics aid in shaping decisions that affect all aspects of our lives. To begin with, political theory is the study of concepts that have shaped our politics and the enduring questions that individuals are concerned about within society. Some of the issues usually addressed in...

About Civil Disobedience: Plato and Martin Luther King’s Views

In this argumentative essay about civil disobedience, I will argue that Martin Luther King’s views about civil disobedience are more credible and trustworthy compared to Plato’s beliefs by addressing the prevalence of racial segregation and discrimination, and comparing and contrasting the activist and philosopher’s views...

Civil Disobedience Concept in Martin Luther King's and Plato's Works

In this paper I will argue that Martin Luther King Jr’s (MLK) views about disobeying the law in the “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” are more credible than Socrates’s views about disobeying the law in “the Crito,” by Plato. MLK believes that civil disobedience is...

First Paper: Conceptual Reconstruction (Allegory, Euthyphro, Apology) 

Plato can be identified not only as a man at his prime but the, most openly looked upon and the most universally praised influential philosopher of all time. Among the three juggernauts of philosophy were his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, and himself. Plato was able to provide the strong...

Analyzing the Psychological Allegory in Plato's Allegory of the Cave

Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" is a philosophical text that has been studied for centuries. It is an allegory that describes the nature of human knowledge and perception. The allegory discusses a group of prisoners who are chained up in a cave and are only...

Definition Of Love As An Universal Phenomenon

 Across generations, love has been defined in diverse modes and perceived from different angles. In fact, love comes in many forms and often feature seemingly indefinite number of categories, which somehow makes it a universal phenomenon. Whereas everyone experiences love, each and every individual has...

Finding The True Meaning And Value Of Life In Plato's Works

The universal question, “What is the meaning of life?” has been questioned since the beginning of civilization. Answers given by most individuals in today’s society dissent greatly from the answers of Roman and Greek civilizations thousands of years back. Great philosophers such as Socrates, Plato,...

The Meaning Of Life And Value Of Life Based On Plato's Philosophy

What is the meaning of life? There are numerous cultural beliefs on how life should be lived by following certain religious or traditional practices. These “meanings of life” could differ based on racial or religious beliefs but in a way, I believe there is an...

Loyalty Is Nothing Without Self Sacrifice: The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living

The Apology of Socrates illustrates the infamous ‘trial of Socrates’ in 399 BC and the stance Socrates took to protect his viewpoints. In this trial, Socrates is being sentenced to death for two charges: Impiety, or lacking respect of proper respect for the Athenian Gods...

Plato’s Allegory Of The Cave And Social Media

Philosophy encompasses a vast compilation of ideas that span centuries of human history, and some very old ideas remain just as relevant today, as they were ages ago. Some of the ideas that ancient philosophers devised over two thousand years ago are still very present...

Plato's Allegory Of The Cave

Plato was a Greek philosopher who wrote a mixture of dialogues about philosophical ideas of faith, knowledge, and ethics, as well as many other topics. One work that he is popularly known for is Plato’s Allegory of the Cave which is in Book seven of...

Plato's apology and Its Influence On Socrates Defence

Apology written by Plato depicts the preliminary thoughts of Plato's educator, Socrates. The story behind the written work is that Socrates was defending himself during his trial, Plato's Apology is a record of the speech Socrates makes at the trial in which he is accused...

Plato's Apology And Creation Of New Idols In Life

Plato’s Apology is the associate degree explanation of the speech the philosopher creates at the trial were which he is apprehended with not acknowledging the gods seen by the state, creating new idols, and undignified the youth of the state of Athens. Socrates’ speech, however,...

Inferring Moral Motivation From The Ring Of Gyges

Gyges story describes that, ordinarily, doing prejudice is great yet the law can compel you to act against that. Equity is naturally bad and unfairness is normally great. Nobody enthusiastically is just; along these lines on the off chance that you enabled individuals to be...

Leadership And Lifetime Learning In Plato And Socrates' Works

It is the desire of every individual to be an essential person in society and be able to influence not only the choices but also the actions of the people in the community in a positive way. This group did not exclude either. When I...

Analysis of Plato's Argument in His Work Phaedo

Philosophical arguments from the ancient philosophers such as Plato, Socrates, and Cebes among others created a foundation to the present society. Most beliefs on religion are traced from the arguments of Socrates and Plato. Their arguments and discussions evoked different opinions which some they agreed...

Critical Analysis of Plato's Concepts for a Perfect Society in His Work The Republic

Contrast Plato’s “ideal state” (“Utopia”) with my ideas of people’s roles in society, freedom of speech, equality and society, freedom of speech, and familial structures. I will provide a definition of the concept and then explain his ideas that contrast with mine, by discussing the...

How Plato’s View of Leadership Would Apply to the Modern Society

Leadership is the ability of aspiring a group of individuals to act towards accomplishing a shared objective. The definition of leadership also captures the fundamentals of being able to inspire others and value others. Successful leadership depends on thoughts (regardless of whether unique or acquired),...

Analysis of Socrates Dialogue with Euthyphro

There are many center parts of theory, for example, Ontology, which is the investigation of being, Metaphysics, the investigation of the real world, Epistemology, the investigation of information, Ethnics, which is the investigation of methods for living, and Logic. I accept that every one of...

The Ring of Gyges: Exploring the Moral in Plato's Story

Essay grade Satisfactory

What really motivates us to behave ethically? This is a question posed in Plato's Republic and he uses the story of Gyges Ring to help us reflect. According to an old greek legend Gyges was a shepherd who worked for the king, one day great...

Excerpt from Phaedo about Socrates Ideas of Afterlife

In this excerpt, it was discussed that Socrates (speaking to Simmias and Cebes) thoroughly believed that death should not be feared by anyone because there is an afterlife. Also, he added that the soul will continue to exist even after a man has perished and...

Socrates and the Knowledge of Forms in Plato's Phaedo

Plato’s writings on Socrates’s day in court and, eventually, his judgment and death reveal a unique, yet controversial approach to the idea of the dual existence of form and appearances. Socrates held lengthy discussions concerning the topic where he provides various arguments to explain his...

Understanding Plato’s Republic Book Analysis

The Republic is no vulnerabilities, or conceivably buts one of Plato's masterworks and one of the most convincing and comprehensively read books all through the whole proximity of thinking. It is what's more cleverly hard to truly get it. There are any number of clarifications...

Nicomachean Ethics: Guiding People to the Better Way of Living

Every single human action goes for some end that we think about good. Most exercises are a way to a better quality. The most noteworthy human good, at that point, is that movement that is an end in itself. That good is bliss. When we...

Socrates and Obedience to the Law

In Plato’s “The Trial and Death of Socrates,” it is proven that Socrates would agree with Creon from Sophocles’ “Antigone” that “individuals have a duty to obey the law, whether the commands are trivial, or right or wrong” (Line 667). Socrates firmly believes that due...

Greek Philosophers and Their Influence on Modern Beliefs

Greek philosophy is the most important and influential philosophy to have existed, as it taught not only finding answers to questions but how the questions are asked and how they are answered. These methods of thinking made sense of the world without resorting to the...

Neoplatonism and Metaphysics In Plotinus's Works

Plotinus is regarded as the founder of Neoplatonism. He remains the most influential philosopher in antiquity after Plato and Aristotle. The words of wisdom life is a mystery to be lived, not just a problem to be solved have always intrigued me. I have reason...

Philosopher Plato and His Work 'The Allegory of the Cave'

One of the world’s most known, widely read and studied philosophers named Plato born in 428 BC. He was the student of Socrates and the teacher of Aristotle who are also world known philosophers. Plato’s level of thinking and reasoning were well beyond that of...

Plato's "Allegory of the Cave": Insights from My Personal Experience

Essay grade Good

Plato is a philosopher from 429 BC, he was known most for his education and his dialogues in Athen. He left a lasting impact on the world outside of Greece, because the broad topics of interest from mathematics, science, and all the way to morals....

How Plato’s and Postman’s Texts Relate to Each Other

“There was a time when those who wrote on the subject of education, such as Plato, Comenius, Locke, and Rousseau, made their metaphors explicit and in doing so revealed how their metaphors controlled their thinking.” (Postman 287). What you see in that quote from Neil...

The Impact Of Plato’s Book Symposium

In Plato’s book, the Symposium, the premise is that of a dinner party held among the friends of Socrates. As the topic of discussion, they dive into the conversation surrounding desire and seek to find an ample description of it. Socrates adds to the conversation...

Symposium As a Philosophical Perception

Love has various meanings for different people. Plato’s Symposium explores various meanings of love and its benefit to individuals and society. The conversation about love started as Athenian men of high moral standing the met in a drinking party and decided to discuss the meaning...

The Symposium Analysis: Plato’s Ladder of Love

After reading Plato’s Symposium, it is quite evident that Plato accepts and endorses the idea of the Ladder of Love as opposed to the other ideas discussed in the agora. In this particular symposium, their encomium was in regard to the God of Love, and...

The Most Famous Plato’s Symposium

Plato’s Symposium known as one of the philosophies most famous pieces of literature delves into the discussion of love and what its true meaning is. Presented as a series of speeches, Symposium works to continuously build and argue the different opinions of love and its...

Plato's Republic and His Theory of the Human Soul

In this paper, I will focus on Plato’s elaborate theory of the human soul by examining the arguments of the three distinct parts of the soul and its virtues within the soul. In the dialogue Plato wrote, Plato uses the character, Socrates as a mouthpiece...

The Definition of Virtue and Human Knowledge by Plato

The question of what humankind knows and is able to know has been pondered by many of the most influential minds in human history. One such thinker was Plato, who authored many influential dialogues during his time on earth. Plato was mentored by the philosopher...

The Image of the Perfect Land in Machiavelli's The Prince and Plato's Republic

Many individuals in history have expounded on perfect rulers and states and how to look after them. Maybe the most discussed and thought about are Machiavelli's, The Prince and Plato's, The Republic. Machiavelli inhabited a period when Italy was experiencing its political demolition. The Prince,...

Plato’s The Apology: Is the Unexamined Life Worth Living?

In Plato’s The Apology, he tells the story of Socrates’ speech he made while on trial for not believing in the gods that the state said all persons were supposed to believe in. In this speech Socrates is not actually apologizing for any of his...

Analysis of Apologies from Various Organisations to the LGBT Community

In the past, there have been many instances in which an apology from the Canadian Government is not enough to make up for past wrongs. One example was the creation of compulsory residential schools for all First Nations children of Canada after 1880. The schools...

Alexander the Great: A Visionary Leader's Enduring Legacy

Essay grade Excellent

Alexander the Great, also known as Alexander III of Macedon, was born in Pella, Greece, in 356 BC. He was the son of King Philip II of Macedon and Olympia, the daughter of the king of Epirus. From a young age, Alexander showed great potential...

Understanding the Philosophy of Love: Analysis of "Symposium"

Essay grade Good

In order to understand the underlying philosophy of love, its types, underlying essence and the fragmentism that can help to understand it in its true form, it is necessary to reflect the visions claimed in Plato’s Symposium. There are different dimensions of love that are...

The Political Theories of John Locke and Other Philosophers

The Second Treatise of Government by John Locke and The Republic by Plato are historically significant philosophical and political theorists’ figures. John Locke greatly influenced the American Constitution based on ideas on liberal government. Plato expanded the ideas of his teacher Socrates and argued for...

The Platonian Society: Weakness of Democracy

Alfred North Whitehead once said, “the safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato.” Overall, while philosophy students differ in many ways, most can agree that Plato is indeed one of the most prominent...

Plato's Solution to Maintaining the Socio-Political Balance

Plato is among the most celebrated philosophers. His legacy has grown over the years as more people learn about his teachings and life achievements. His life story has always been an interesting subject among many. Also, his notable works such as Republic have remained to...

The Idea of Tyrranic Society in the Eyes of Plato

Throughout this essay, I will discussing the nature of Plato’s thought in regards to who should rule an ordered society. I will do this by looking at the works of Plato in order to gather ideas, while investigating other key texts such as Jonathan Wolff,...

Socrates' View of Society Throughout His Trials

Plato’s Apology and Crito follow Socrates through the trial and sentencing of his supposed crimes against Athens. Socrates believes himself to have been wrongly convicted of crimes against society and yet he accepts his punishment. He attempts, throughout this process, to reconcile his belief in...

Establishment of the Greek Worldview by Greek Philosophers

Essay grade Excellent

Ancient Greek philosophers and scientists explained the universe in ways beyond just mathematics and physical laws. Their worldview (i.e. their set of beliefs that shape their outlook on life) is also based on myths, astronomy, observations, metaphysics, etc., all of which provided a basis for...

Socrates Meaning Of Life

In Western philosophy, the question surrounding the meaning of life has become a subject of discussion and debate. In recent decades, philosophers have demonstrated a significant amount of interest in unraveling the identity of the factors that make life meaningful. Susan Wolf is one such...

Literature Analysis Of Phaedo By Plato

The following analysis will examine the Phaedo by Plato. The following questions will be addressed: What is the historical context of this period? Who was the author and what is his bias? What was the author’s intent in writing this and whom did he see...

The Greek Philosophers And Their Philosophies

Socrates (469-399 B.C.) was the son of a sculptor, Sophroniscus, and grew up an Athenian citizen. He was reported to be gifted with words and was sometimes accused of what Plato later accused Sophists, that is, using rhetorical devices to “make the weaker argument the...

Gods, Fate, And Human Agency In The Works Of Homer, Herodotus And Plato

Gods, Fate, and Human Agency interrelate and play very large roles in many of the works we have read, including, The Iliad by Homer, On the War for Greek Freedom by Herodotus, and The Trial and Death of Socrates by Plato. Within the epic poem...

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