Explore

Compare

Two thinkers, side by side

Life

Socrates

c. 470 BCE – 399 BCE

ClassicalSocratic

Born Athens

He wrote nothing, but changed everything. Philosophy became a conversation.

Plato

c. 428 BCE – c. 348 BCE

ClassicalPlatonist

Born Athens

He saw a world behind the world. The Forms are real; what we see are shadows.

Connection

Socrates teacher → student Plato — Plato was Socrates’ most devoted student. After Socrates’ death, Plato made him the central figure of nearly every dialogue he wrote.

Shared Ideas

Justice Virtue Reason

Shared Places

Athens Athens Athens

Ideas

Virtue Justice Reason

Justice Being Virtue Reason

Words

“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
— Socrates

“I know that I know nothing.”
— Socrates

“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”
— Plato

“The measure of a man is what he does with power.”
— Plato

Key Moments

c. 470 BCE

Born in Athens

c. 440 BCE

Questioning in the Agora

c. 432 BCE

The Oracle’s Declaration

399 BCE

Trial and Conviction

c. 428 BCE

Born in Athens

c. 408 BCE

Meeting Socrates

399 BCE

Death of Socrates

c. 388 BCE

First Voyage to Syracuse

Works

Apology

Crito

Phaedo

Apology

Crito

Symposium

Phaedo

Republic

Explore

Compare

Two thinkers, side by side

Life

Socrates

c. 470 BCE – 399 BCE

ClassicalSocratic

Born Athens

He wrote nothing, but changed everything. Philosophy became a conversation.

Plato

c. 428 BCE – c. 348 BCE

ClassicalPlatonist

Born Athens

He saw a world behind the world. The Forms are real; what we see are shadows.

Connection

Socrates teacher → student Plato — Plato was Socrates’ most devoted student. After Socrates’ death, Plato made him the central figure of nearly every dialogue he wrote.

Shared Ideas

Justice Virtue Reason

Shared Places

Athens Athens Athens

Ideas

Virtue Justice Reason

Justice Being Virtue Reason

Words

“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
— Socrates

“I know that I know nothing.”
— Socrates

“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”
— Plato

“The measure of a man is what he does with power.”
— Plato

Key Moments

c. 470 BCE

Born in Athens

c. 440 BCE

Questioning in the Agora

c. 432 BCE

The Oracle’s Declaration

399 BCE

Trial and Conviction

c. 428 BCE

Born in Athens

c. 408 BCE

Meeting Socrates

399 BCE

Death of Socrates

c. 388 BCE

First Voyage to Syracuse

Works

Apology

Crito

Phaedo

Apology

Crito

Symposium

Phaedo

Republic