Platonist School of Ancient Greek Philosophy Texts

21 authors • 216 works

Opening Plato founded the Academy in Athens around 387 BCE. The institution gave its name to the philosophical tradition that followed his work.

Core teachings A central theme is the existence of εἶδος/ἰδέα (look, kind). This posits that beyond the changing, imperfect world perceived by the senses lies a realm of unchanging realities. These looks are the proper objects of knowledge. For instance, all beautiful things share in the look of Beauty itself. The physical world is an image of this intelligible realm.

The human ψυχή (soul) is immortal and existed before the body, possessing an innate familiarity with the looks which it can recollect through inquiry. The aim of life is to turn the soul away from material concerns and toward contemplation of the looks, culminating in an understanding of the look of the Good.

Key figures The founder was Plato. His student Aristotle developed his own philosophy while at the Academy. Speusippus and Xenocrates succeeded Plato as heads of the school. In the Hellenistic period, Arcesilaus initiated a skeptical phase, arguing that certainty was unattainable. Carneades continued this approach. Antiochus of Ascalon later rejected skepticism, seeking to revive the doctrines of Plato and his early successors. In the Roman Imperial era, figures like Plutarch of Chaeronea were important. The tradition culminated in Plotinus, who founded Neoplatonism in the 3rd century CE, and his successors Porphyry, Iamblichus, and Proclus.

Historical development The tradition's history is divided into phases. The Old Academy, led by Plato and his immediate successors, developed his ideas. The Middle Academy, beginning with Arcesilaus around 266 BCE, adopted a rigorous skepticism, suspending judgment on dogmatic claims. The New Academy, associated with Carneades, continued this stance. Around 90 BCE, Antiochus of Ascalon broke with skepticism, claiming to return to the doctrines of the Old Academy. This dogmatic revival continued through the Roman period.

The final major phase was Neoplatonism, beginning with Plotinus. Neoplatonists elaborated a metaphysical system emanating from a single source, the One. The Platonic school in Athens was closed by imperial order in 529 CE, though philosophical teaching continued elsewhere.

Sources https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/plato/ https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/platonism/ https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/plotinus/ https://www.britannica.com/biography/Plato https://www.britannica.com/topic/Platonism

Authors

Ἀλβῖνος ὁ Πλατωνικός

Albinus the Platonist

Ἀλέξανδρος Λυκοπολίτης

Alexander of Lycopolis

Ἀνώνυμος ὑπόμνημα εἰς τὸν Πλάτωνος Θεαίτητον

Anonymous Commentary on Plato

Ἀρίμνηστος

Arimnestus the Philosopher

Ἀττικός

Atticus the Philosopher

Κάσσιος Λογγῖνος

Cassius Longinus the Philosopher

Κέλσος ὁ Πλατωνικός

Celsus the Platonist

Κράντωρ ὁ Σολεύς

Crantor of Soli

Εὔδρομος

Eudromus the Philosopher

Ἡρακλείδης ὁ Ποντικός

Heraclides of Pontus

Ἡρακλείδης ὁ Ποντικός

Heraclides of Pontus II

Ἡρακλείδης ὁ Ποντικός

Heraclides of Pontus III

Ἀνώνυμος Προλεγόμενα εἰς τὴν Πλατωνικὴν Φιλοσοφίαν

Introduction Platonism Anonymous

Νουμήνιος ὁ ἐξ Ἀπαμείας

Numenius of Apamea

Πλατωνικὴ ὑπόμνησις

Plato Commentary

Πλάτων, Λύσις

Πλάτων ὁ Ἀθηναῖος

Plato of Athens

Πλούταρχος ὁ Χαιρωνεύς

Plutarch of Chaeronea

Σεουῆρος ὁ Πλατωνικός

Severus the Platonist

Σπεύσιππος ὁ Ἀθηναῖος

Speusippus of Athens

Ξενοκράτης ὁ Χαλκηδόνιος

Xenocrates of Chalcedon

Works

Albinus the Platonist

Διδασκαλικὸς τῶν Πλάτωνος δογμάτων

Teaching of Plato's Doctrines

Εἰσαγογὴ εἰς τοὺς Πλάτωνος διαλόγους

Introduction to the Dialogues of Plato

Alexander of Lycopolis

Πραγματεία Περὶ τῶν Μανιχαίων Δογμάτων

Treatise-the Doctrines of the Manichaeans

Anonymous Commentary on Plato

Ὑπόμνημα εἰς τὸν Θεαίτητον τοῦ Πλάτωνος

Commentary-Plato's Theaetetus

Arimnestus the Philosopher

Ἀποσπάσματα περὶ Πυθαγορικῆς Σοφίας

Fragments on Pythagorean Wisdom

Atticus the Philosopher

Ἀποσπάσματα

On the Divisions of Philosophy

Cassius Longinus the Philosopher

Προλεγόμενα Λογγίνου

Prolegomena Longinus, Commentary Remains

Τέχνη Ῥητορική

Ἐκλογαί

Celsus the Platonist

Ἀληθὴς λόγος

Crantor of Soli

Ἀποσπάσματα

Commentary on Plato's Atlantis

Ἀποσπάσματα καὶ Τίτλος

Fragments and Title

Eudromus the Philosopher

Ἀποσπάσματα περὶ Φιλοσοφικῆς Διαιρέσεως

Fragments on Philosophical Division

Heraclides of Pontus

Περὶ δυσκλίτων ῥημάτων

On Difficult Words

Ἀποσπάσματα

On Prosody and Accent

Heraclides of Pontus II

Ἀποσπάσματα

Persian Court Customs

Heraclides of Pontus III

Ἀποσπάσματα

Ethical and Physical Dialogues

Introduction Platonism Anonymous

Προλεγόμενα εἰς τὴν Πλατωνικὴν φιλοσοφίαν

Introduction to Platonic Philosophy

Numenius of Apamea

Ἀποσπάσματα

Plato Commentary

Σχόλια εἰς Πλάτωνα

Σχόλια εἰς Πλάτωνα

Plato Lysis

Μαρτυρίαι

Ἐπιστολὴ πρὸς Ἵππαρχον

Letter to Hipparchus

Plato of Athens

Εὐθύδημος

Εὐθύφρων

Θεαίτητος

Κλειτοφῶν

Κλειτοφῶν

Κρατύλος

Μενέξενος

Παρμενίδης

Πολιτεία

Πολιτικός

Πρωταγόρας

Σοφιστής

Συμπόσιον

Φαῖδρος

Χαρμίδης

Ἀλκιβιάδης αʹ

Ἀλκιβιάδης βʹ

Ἀπολογία Σωκράτους

Apology of Socrates

Ἐπιγράμματα

Ἐπιγράμματα

Ἐπινομίς

Ἐπιστολαί

Plato's Political Letters

Ἐρασταί

Ἱππίας μείζων

Greater Hippias

Ἱππίας ἐλάττων

Ἵππαρχος

Plutarch of Chaeronea

Αἰμίλιος Παῦλος

Aemilius Paulus

Αἴτια φυσικά

Αἴτια Ἑλληνικά

Roman and Greek Causes

Βροῦτος

Γάϊος Μάριος

Γάϊος Μάρκιος

Γαμικὰ παραγγέλματα

Marriage Precepts

Γυναικῶν ἀρεταί

Virtues of Women

Δημήτριος

Δημοσθένης

Εἰ αὐτάρκης ἡ κακία πρὸς κακοδαιμονίαν

Whether Vice Suffices For Misfortune

Εἰ διδακτὸν ἡ ἀρετή

Whether Virtue Is Teachable

Εἰ καλῶς εἴρηται τὸ λάθε βιώτας

Whether Live Unnoticed Is Well Said

Εἰ πρεσβυτέρῳ πολιτευτέον

Whether An Elder Should Engage In Politics

Εἰ ἡ τοῦ νοῦ δύναμις παθητικὸς βίος

Whether the Mind's Faculty is Passive Life

Εὐμένης

Θεμιστοκλῆς

Θησέως καὶ Ῥωμύλου σύγκρισις

Comparison of Theseus and Romulus

Κάμιλλος

Κάτων ὁ Νεώτερος

Cato the Younger

Κίμωνος καὶ Λουκούλλος σύγκρισις

Comparison of Cimon and Lucullus

Λακαινῶν ἀποφθάγματα

Laconian Sayings

Λούκουλλος

Λυκούργου καὶ Νομᾶ σύγκρισις

Comparison of Lycurgus and Numa

Λυκοῦργος

Λύσανδρος

Μάρκελλος

Μάρκος Κάτων

Νικίου καὶ Κράσσου σύγκρισις

Comparison of Nicias and Crassus

Παραμυθητικός εἰς τὴν γυναῖκα τὴν αὑτου

Consolation to His Wife

Παροιμίαι αἷς Ἀλεξανδρεῖς ἐχρῶντο

Proverbs Used by Alexandrians

Πελοπίδας

Πελοπίδου καὶ Μαρκέλλου σύγκρισις

Comparison of Pelopidas and Marcellus

Περικλέους καὶ Φαβίου σύγκρισις

Comparison of Pericles and Fabius

Περικλῆς

Περὶ δεισιδαιμονίας

On Superstition

Περὶ δυσωπίας

Περὶ εἱμαρμένης

Περὶ εὐθυμίας

Περὶ μοναρχίας καὶ δημοκρατίας καὶ ὀλιγαρχίας

On Monarchy, Democracy, and Oligarchy

Περὶ παίδων ἀγωγῆς

On the Education of Children

Περὶ πολυπραγμοσύνης

On Meddlesomeness

Περὶ πολυφιλίας

On Many Friendships

Περὶ σαρκοφαγίας λόγος α′

On Flesh-Eating Discourse A

Περὶ σαρκοφαγίας λόγος β′

On Flesh-Eating Discourse B

Περὶ Στωικῶν ἐνιγμάτων.

On Stoic Riddles

Περὶ τοῦ Ε τοῦ ἐν Δελφοῖς

On the E at Delphi

Περὶ τοῦ μὴ δεῖν δανείζεσθαι

On Not Needing to Borrow

Περὶ τοῦ μὴ χρᾶν ἔμμετρα νῦν τὴν Πυθίαν

On the Pythia Not Giving Oracles in Verse Now

Περὶ τοῦ πρώτως ψυχροῦ

On the Primarily Cold

Περὶ τοῦ πότερον ὕδωρ ἢ πῦρ χρησιμώτερον

On Whether Water or Fire Is More Useful

Περὶ τοῦ Σωκράτους δαιμονίου

On the Daimonion of Socrates

Περὶ τοῦ τὰ ἄλογα λόγῳ χρῆσθαι

On Using Reason with the Irrational

Περὶ τοῦ ἀκούειν.

Περὶ τοῦ ἐμφαινομένου προσώπου τῷ κύκλῳ τῆς

On the Face in the Moon's Orb

Περὶ τοῦ ἑαυτὸν ἐπαινεῖν ἀνεπιφθόνως

On Praising Oneself Without Envy

Περὶ τοῦ ὅτι μάλιστα τοῖς ἡγεμόσι δεῖ τὸν

On That the Philosopher Should Converse Especially with Rulers

Περὶ τύχης

Περὶ τῆς εἰς τὰ ἔκγονα φιλοστοργίας

On Affection for Offspring

Περὶ τῆς Ἀλεξάνδρου τύχης ἢ ἀρετῆς λόγος Α,

On the Fortune or Virtue of Alexander, Discourse A. Discourse B

Περὶ τῆς ἐν Τιμαίῳ ψυχογονίας

On the Creation of the Soul in the Timaeus

Περὶ τῆς ἠθικῆς ἀρετῆς

On Moral Virtue

Περὶ τῆς Ἡροδότου κακοηθείας

On the Malice of Herodotus

Περὶ τῆς Ῥωμαίων τύχης

On the Fortune of the Romans

Περὶ τῶν δέκα ἡτόρων

Lives of Ten Orators

Περὶ τῶν κοινῶν ἐννοιῶν πρὸς τοὺς Στωικοὺς

On Common Notions to the Stoics

Περὶ τῶν Ἀλεξανδρέων παροιμιῶν

On the Proverbs of the Alexandrians

Περὶ τῶν ἐκλελοιπότων

On the Departed

Περὶ τῶν ὑπὸ τοῦ θείου βραδέως τιμωρουμένων

On Those Punished Slowly by the Divine

Περὶ φθόνου καὶ μίσους

On Envy and Hatred

Περὶ φιλαδελφίας

On Brotherly Love

Περὶ φιλοπλουτίας

On Love of Wealth

Περὶ φυγῆς

Περὶ ἀδολεσχίας

Περὶ ἀοπγησίας

Περὶ ἀρετῆς καὶ κακιάς

On Virtue and Vice

Περὶ ἡδονῆς καὶ λύπης

On Lust and Sorrow

Περὶ Ἴσιδος και Ὀσίριδος

On Isis and Osiris

Πλατωνικὰ ζητήματα

Platonic Questions

Πολιτικὰ παραγγέλματα

Political Precepts

Πομπήϊος

Ποπλικόλας

Ποτερον τὰ τῆς ψυχῆς ἢ τὰ τοῦ σώματος πάθη χείρονα

Whether the Soul's or Body's Passions Are Worse

Πραμυθητικὸς πρὸς Ἀπολλώνιον

Consolation to Apollonius

Πρὸς Κωλώτην

Πρὸς ἡγεμόνα ἀπαίδευτον

To an Uneducated Governor

Πων επτά σοφών συμπόσιον

Symposium of the Seven Sages

Πότερα τῶν ζῴων φρονιμώτερα τὰ χερσαῖα ἢ τὰ ἔνυδρα

Whether Land or Water Animals Are Wiser

Πότερον Ἀθηναῖοι κατὰ πόλεμον ἢ κατὰ σοφίαν

Whether Athenians Are More Renowned for War or Wisdom

Πῶς δεῖ τὸν νέον ποιημάτων ἀκούειν.

How a Young Man Should Listen to Poems

Πῶς ἄν τις αἴσθοιτο ἑαυτοῦ προκόπτοντος ἐπʼ ἀρετή

How One Might Perceive His Progress in Virtue

Πῶς ἄν τις διακρίνειε τὸν κόλακα τοῦ φίλοῦ

How One Might Distinguish the Flatterer from the Friend

Πῶς ἄν τις ἀπ ἐχθρῶν ὠφελοῖτο

How One Might Benefit from Enemies

Σερτώριος

Συγκρίσεως Ἀριστοφάνους καὶ Μενάνδρου ἐπιτομή

Epitome of Comparison of Aristophanes and Menander

Συμποσιακῶν προβλημάτων βιβλία

Books of Symposiastic Problems

Συναγωγὴ ἱστοριῶν παραλλήλων Ἑλληνικῶν καὶ

Collection of Parallel Greek and Roman Histories

Σόλωνος καὶ Ποπλικόλα σύγκρισις

Comparison of Solon and Poplicola

Σύγκρισις Δίωνος καὶ Βρούτου

Comparison of Dion and Brutus

Σύγκρισις Δημητρίου καὶ Ἀντωνίου

Comparison of Demetrius and Antony

Σύγκρισις Δημοσθένους καὶ Κικέρωνος

Comparison of Demosthenes and Cicero

Σύγκρισις Λυσάνδρου καὶ Σύλλα

Comparison of Lysander and Sulla

Σύγκρισις Σερτωρίου καὶ Εὐμένους

Comparison of Sertorius and Eumenes

Σύγκρισις Τιμολέοντος καὶ Αἰμιλίου

Comparison of Timoleon and Aemilius

Σύγκρισις Φιλοποίμενος καὶ Τίτου

Comparison of Philopoemen and Titus

Σύγκρισις Ἄγιδος καὶ Κλεομένους καὶ Γράκχων

Comparison of Agis and Cleomenes and the Gracchi

Σύνοψις τοῦ ὅτι παραδοξότερα οἱ Στωικοὶ τῶν

Summary of Stoics Saying More Paradoxical Things Than Poets

Τίτος Φλαμινῖνος

Titus Flamininus

Τιβέριος καὶ Γάϊος Γράκχος

Tiberius and Caius Gracchus

Τιμολέων

Φάβιος Μάξιμος

Φιλοποίμην

Ἀγησίλαος

Ἀγησιλάου καὶ Πομπηΐου σύγκρισις

Comparison of Agesilaus and Pompey

Ἀλέξανδρος

Ἀλκιβιάδης

Ἀλκιβιάδου καὶ Κοριολὰνου σύγκρισις

Comparison of Alcibiades and Coriolanus

Ἀντώνιος

Ἀποσπάσματα

On the Daedala at Plataea

Ἀποσπάσματα περὶ Ἐπαμεινώνδου καὶ Σκιπίωνος

Fragments on Epaminondas and Scipio

Ἀποφθέγματα βασιλέων καὶ στρατηγῶν

Apophthegms of Kings and Generals

Ἀριστείδης

Ἀριστείδου καὶ Κάτωνος σύγκρισις

Comparison of Aristeides and Cato

Ἀρταξέρξης

Ἄγις καὶ Κλεομένης

Agis and Cleomenes

Ἐκλογὴ περὶ τῶν ἀδυνάτων

SelectiImpossibilities

Ἐπιτομὴ τοῦ περὶ τῆς ἐν τῷ Τιμαίῳ ψυχογονίας

Summary of the Soul's Creation in the Timaeus

Ἐρωτικαὶ διγηήσεις

Amatory Narratives

Ἐρωτικός

Ὅτι οὐδ ἡδέως ζῆν ἔστι κατ Ἐπίκουρον

That It Is Not Possible to Live Pleasantly According to Epicurus

Ὑγιεινὰ παραγγέλματα

Hygienic Instructions

Ῥωμύλος

Severus the Platonist

Περὶ ψυχῆς

Speusippus of Athens

Πρὸς Φίλιππον βασιλέα

Letter to King Philip

Ἀποσπάσματα περὶ Φιλοσόφων

Fragments on Philosophers

Ἐπιστολαὶ πρὸς Φίλιππον

Letters to Philip

Xenocrates of Chalcedon

Ἀποσπάσματα περὶ τῶν Πλάτωνος Μαθητῶν

Fragments on Plato's Disciples