Socrates (c. 470–399 BCE)
The stonemason's son who never wrote a word, questioned everyone in Athens, and was put to death for it. His method of relentless questioning still shapes how we argue and teach.
Meet Socrates →Plato (c. 428–348 BCE)
Socrates' most famous student, founder of the Academy, and author of the dialogues that carry his teacher's voice. Alfred North Whitehead called later philosophy a series of footnotes to him.
Meet Plato →Featured articles
The Allegory of the Cave
What Plato's most famous image says about knowledge, education and the cost of seeing clearly.
Read the article →The Socratic Method
How Socrates used questions, not lectures, to test ideas and expose what we only think we know.
Read the article →The Republic: A Reader's Guide
An overview of Plato's dialogue on justice, the ideal city and the shape of a well-ordered soul.
Read the article →The Theory of Forms
Plato's claim that behind changing appearances stand perfect, unchanging realities, and why it still matters.
Read the article →Join the conversation
Our discussion board is taking shape. Topics are posted and open discussion is coming soon. Until then, read along, keep a notebook, and bring your best objections.
“The unexamined life is not worth living.” — Socrates, in Plato's Apology 38a