Plato was an ancient Greek philosopher from Athens, a mathematician, a student of Socrates, a writer of philosophical dialogues and the founder of the Academy of Athens which is considered to be the first institution of higher education in the Western world.
The exact time and place of birth of Plato is unknown, but is believed that he was born somewhere between 429 and 423 BC. Together with his mentor Socrates and his student Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the foundations of western philosophy and science. Plato influenced a whole range of subjects from philosophy to mathematics, logic and morality. His philosophical dialogues have exerted enormous influence on ancient Greek philosophy and, more generally, on Western philosophy to this day.
Plato, among other things, wrote “The Apology of Socrates”, which is regarded as a relatively accurate record of Socrates’ apology in the trial that sentenced him to death. Plato died in 347 BC, about 80 years old.