Circa 428-348 Or 347 B.C.E.
Philosopher

Influence. Plato is a member of the great trio of ancient Greek intellectuals—the other two being Socrates and Aristotle—who established the philosophical foundations of Western culture. Almost every ancient philosopher who came after him wrote in response to Plato's theories. In fact, scholars studied his logical, epistemological, and metaphysical writings throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

Aristocles. Plato was born in Athens, the son of Ariston and Perictione. He was originally called Aristocles, after his grandfather, but was given the nickname "Plato" (after the Greek word platus, meaning broad, apparently in reference to either his physique, broad forehead, or intellect). He studied under Socrates until the philosopher's death in 399 B.C.E. and then began a series of travels that led him to Megara, Egypt, Cyrene, Sicily, and Magna Graecia (the Greek seaport colonies of...