Founding of Plato's Academy: What Happened
Around 387 BC, the philosopher Plato founded a school in a grove on the outskirts of Athens sacred to the hero Akademos. It became known as the Academy, and it is often described as the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Plato had been a devoted student of Socrates, and after his teacher's execution in 399 BC he traveled widely, including to Italy and Sicily, before returning to Athens. At the Academy, he and his students studied and debated philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, politics and ethics. Plato wrote dialogues, many featuring Socrates as the main speaker, exploring questions of justice, knowledge, love and the ideal state, including his famous work, the Republic. His most famous student was Aristotle, who studied at the Academy for about twenty years. The Academy continued after Plato's death in 348 or 347 BC, led by a series of successors, and remained influential for centuries. Its tradition lasted until the Byzantine emperor Justinian closed the pagan schools of Athens in 529 AD. The word academy comes from its name.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Plato found the Academy?
Plato founded the Academy around 387 BC in a grove on the outskirts of Athens sacred to the hero Akademos. It is often called the first institution of higher learning in the Western world.
What was taught at Plato's Academy?
Students studied and debated philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, politics and ethics. According to tradition, a sign over the entrance warned that no one ignorant of geometry should enter.
Who studied at Plato's Academy?
The most famous student was Aristotle, who studied there for about twenty years. Many other philosophers, mathematicians and statesmen were also trained at the Academy.
Where does the word academy come from?
The word academy comes from the name of the Academy's location, a grove sacred to the hero Akademos. It is now used for schools and learned societies worldwide.
Can you visit Plato's Academy?
Yes. The site of Plato's Academy is an archaeological park in the Akadimia Platonos neighborhood of Athens, with remains of buildings and a small museum nearby.
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