Plato’s Theory of Education
Adding to the current series about prominent educational theorists (see our discussion of Richard Feynman here), we introduce a review of the philosopher Plato and his ideas about education.
Plato, as nearly everyone versed in classical history knows, was a highly influential Greek philosopher. Born sometime around 428-423 BC, he lived from 75 to 80 years before dying in 348/349 BC in what is presently known as Classical Athens. He is considered the father of the Western Philosophical Tradition, was a student of Socrates himself, and counted Aristotle as one of his students. He founded a school with the simple title ‘The Academy’ in Athens, and taught theories that would later become known as Platonism.
Plato’s theories in general mostly revolved around the idea of Universal Truths, which he chose to call Forms. He believed that the function of education was to refine innate intellectual ability in every individual by searching out these Forms and emphasizing moral development. He claimed that true knowledge could only be discovered through introspection and dialectical reasoning (forming or modifying ideas through the presentation of opposing ideas and arguments), and thought it imperative to seek higher forms of truth beyond the material world. Plato used the Socratic method of questioning his students, posing open-ended questions to explore advanced concepts and encourage deeper understanding of subjects.
He also placed much emphasis on the purpose and methods of education. While his ideas remain standard in many higher institutions of learning, Plato’s theories were criticized during and after his lifetime for being overly abstract and elitist.
Can we apply Plato’s theories to today’s learning environments?
Plato’s ideas, while older and only applicable at the time to male students in their late teens or older, can still be applied to children (even young ones) in modern society. A few tips on incorporating some of his methods are listed below:
*Introduce physical activity very early in a child’s life, whether informally during play or formally in sport activity later on. Plato believed that physical development was essential to maintaining a healthy body and mind, enabling students to think more effectively and solve challenging problems.
*Put an emphasis on certain subjects that Plato believed were paramount to understanding the nature of reality. These subjects included math, literacy, the arts, philosophy, and (later on) dialectics, which was an advanced questioning and debate technique typically reserved for older students. For children, related activities might involve subject-specific toys, books, and experiences that introduce academic subjects (such as the manipulatives found on some of our resource lists ), or, for older students, more in-depth study of the abstract nature of these subjects. For all ages, discussion takes first position because it communicates to children that we are interested in what they think and that their ideas are important. No child is too young to be listened to, and all are entitled to our undivided attention when it comes to making observations.
*According to Plato, Moral Development was the central tenet of a quality education, and grew in importance as students got older. Virtues such as temperance, courage, justice, and wisdom created future leaders who made better decisions and more positive contributions to society. Encouraging moral development in modern students might be helped by: role-playing, designing and carrying out informal debates, participating in problem-solving activities that address real-world problems, encouraging kindness and helpfulness, developing strong listening skills, and asking children what they would do when presented with complex situations, helping them to navigate and reason through each step.
Most importantly of all, in ways that will always be consistent with Plato’s philosophy, support your child at every age by modeling the core tenets you would like them to possess. Be a good listener. Be a good questioner. Ask for their opinions and accept their answers, no matter how different they are from your own. Encourage them to seek evidence both for and against their ideas, and always, always encourage them to inquire and think for themselves, the enduring foundation of Platonic philosophy.
Find further sources about Platonic Theory and Plato’s philosophy of education below:
Philosophy of Plato – The Republic
The Cambridge Companion to Plato
Plato: A Very Short Introduction
Big Ideas for Little Philosophers: Love with Plato
Plato’s Republic for Kids: The Cave and the Climb
Shadows to Sunlight: A Creative Retelling of Plato’s Allegory of the Cave