What Plato can teach us about living a good life -

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Who was Plato? -

Believed to have been born sometime between 428 and 423 BCE in Athens, Greece, Plato was the nickname for the Greek philosopher who was actually called Aristocles.

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Who was Plato? -

Plato was a believer in reason and logic. He was in good company as he was taught by Socrates, while Aristotle became his student. 

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Two realms of existence -

Plato believed in metaphysical dualism. To him, there were two realms of existence: the physical, which is fleeting, and the eternal (invisible), or spiritual.

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Two realms of existence -

While the body is anchored in the fleeting, material reality, the mind and soul are part of the domain of existence that is eternal.

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The Theory of Forms: appearance vs. reality -

One of Plato's most famous works, the 'Theory of Forms,' describes how the physical world is merely an imperfect shadow of the unchanging, eternal world of Forms.

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Three parts of the soul -

To Plato, the human soul is divided into three parts: the rational part (where wisdom resides), the spirited part (courage and honor are found here), and the appetitive part (the source of pleasure and desire).

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Reason and wisdom drive us forward -

The rational part of the soul must guide the spirited and appetitive parts towards harmony, as it is the only part of the soul capable of understanding the world of Forms.

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The allegory of the cave -

Plato asks us to imagine we are in a cave, surrounded by darkness except for a small, slither of light, and no way out. There are paintings on the wall, with dancing shadows. 

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The allegory of the cave -

The shadows dancing on the wall are being manipulated, but we're unable to see who the tormentors are: this is what the physical world of appearances is like. However, it's possible to escape into the open air where there is nature and trees, the World of Form.

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Dialogues -

Many of Plato's writings take the form of dialogues, including the Theory of Forms. This leaves it up to the reader to draw meaning and to extract their own interpretation.

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Plato's life lessons: 1. Conquer yourself -

In 'The Laws of Plato,' he advises: "The first and greatest victory is to conquer yourself; to be conquered by yourself is of all things most shameful and vile."

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1. Conquer yourself -

In order to live a good life, it's necessary to gain mastery of yourself, i.e. conquer yourself. Mastery over the self is obtained with the practice of self-discipline.

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2. Anger solves nothing -

Plato is attributed with the quote: "There are two things a person should never be angry at, what they can help, and what they cannot."

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2. Anger solves nothing -

Plato's words serve as a reminder that there are things beyond our control that are not worth being angry about. What's more, it's necessary to develop acceptance and resilience in the face of the things that cause anger that can be helped, because it doesn't solve anything.

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3. Choose your friends wisely -

Be careful who you consider a real friend. Not everyone you might consider or call a friend will be. Plato felt that "True friendship can exist only between equals." 

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3. Choose your friends wisely -

In friendships where people feel they are on an equal footing, there is goodwill and admiration for the other's virtues. In contrast, "no one is a friend to his friend who does not love in return."

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4. Find your other half -

Plato saw finding your other half as a rational urge. In 'The Symposium,' he said: "Love is simply the name for the desire and pursuit of the whole."

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4. Find your other half -

In 'Phaedrus,' Plato noted the transcendent quality of finding love with another: "The madness of love is the greatest of heaven's blessings."

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5. Be politically active -

In 'The Republic,' Plato noted: "The heaviest penalty for declining to rule is to be ruled by someone inferior to yourself."

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5. Be politically active -

Taking an active participatory role in leadership and politics is one of the keys to living a good life. If you are not involved, your fate is in the hands of someone who might not be as competent or capable as another.

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6. Learn to be a follower before a master -

Plato felt that "he who is not a good servant will not be a good master." In order to learn how to lead, it was necessary to become adept at serving others.

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6. Learn to be a follower before a master -

Service allows people to gain self-mastery; through moderation and having purpose, they learn how to live for the benefit of something greater than themselves.

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7. Be content with little -

Plato espoused the virtues of modest living and the contentment it brings. In his eyes, "the greatest wealth is to live content with little."

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7. Be content with little -

By living a life of morality, in keeping with the four cardinal values of temperance, prudence, fortitude, and justice, a person would find comfort and contentment.

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8. Take charge of your own happiness -

Plato is quoted as saying: "The man who makes everything that leads to happiness depend upon himself, and not upon other men, has adopted the very best plan for living happily. This is the man of moderation, the man of manly character and of wisdom"

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8. Take charge of your own happiness -

Taking complete responsibility for your life involves developing self-awareness, self-examination, self-control, and striving for excellence, and will bring more happiness and wisdom than relying on other people.

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9. Accomplish great things by working hard -

Plato said: "Excellence is not a gift, but a skill that takes practice." There is value in hard work, because great things take consistency and effort.

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9. Accomplish great things by working hard -

The cultivation of moral and intellectual virtues takes time and dedication. Self-mastery doesn't happen by accident, or without focus and commitment.

Sources: (The Collector) (Stanford University) (The Greek Times) (Forbes)

See also: Who are the Nine Muses of Greek mythology?

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