Plato (Aflaatoon) | The Architect of Western Philosophy! - video Dailymotion

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Plato, known as Aflaatoon in several South Asian traditions, stands as a monumental figure in ancient Greek philosophy. Born around 427 BCE in Athens, he was deeply influenced by his teacher Socrates and later became the mentor to Aristotle, thus forming a trio that significantly shaped Western philosophical thought. Plato's contributions span across a multitude of philosophical domains including ethics, politics, metaphysics, and epistemology.  His dialogues, a unique literary form blending dramatic elements with philosophical discourse, remain foundational texts in philosophy. Among his many works, "The Republic" is particularly notable for its profound exploration of justice, the ideal state, and the concept of the philosopher-king, proposing a society governed by wisdom and reason. Plato’s theory of Forms, which posits the existence of abstract, perfect prototypes for all things, revolutionized metaphysical thought and has had a lasting impact on subsequent philosophical inquiry.

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00:00Plato, Aflatoon, the architect of Western philosophy.

00:27Plato, known as Aflatoon in several South Asian traditions,

00:31was a pivotal figure in ancient Greek philosophy. Born around 427 BCE in Athens,

00:38he was a student of Socrates and later became the teacher of Aristotle,

00:42forming a trio that laid the foundational stones of Western philosophy.

00:47Plato's works, primarily written in the form of dialogues, cover various aspects of philosophy,

00:52including ethics, politics, metaphysics, and epistemology. His famous texts such as

00:58The Republic explore ideas about justice, the ideal state, and the philosopher king.

01:03Through the establishment of the Academy in Athens, one of the earliest institutions of

01:08higher learning, Plato significantly influenced the intellectual discourse of his time and

01:12continues to be a central figure in philosophical studies today.

01:15Plato, who was a famous Greek philosopher, said about two and a half thousand years ago that if

01:22any of the two classes of society, the merchant class and the military class, advance and seize

01:27the rule, the state will be destroyed. Will definitely come. His ideas are still of great

01:33importance today and his philosophical insights have had a profound impact on politics, economics,

01:38and social structure. Business Class

01:42Plato emphasized the dangers of merchant class rule. According to him, businessmen put their

01:48own interests first. When businessmen rule, their first priority is to increase their wealth and

01:54business. In this type of governance, public interests are put on the back burner and the

01:58state system becomes based on concentration of wealth and selfishness. As a result, inequality

02:04increases, public discontent develops, and social unrest ensues. Military Class

02:11Plato also described the disadvantages of military rule. According to him, military rulers place more

02:18emphasis on warfare and the use of force. When the military class rules, an atmosphere of militancy

02:24and repression is created in the state. Such governance suppresses public liberties, destroys

02:29democracy, and violates human rights. As a result of military rule, fear spreads in the state and

02:36people lose faith in the government. Plato's Ideal State

02:41Plato in his book, The Republic, presented the concept of an ideal state in which the ruling

02:45class is called the philosopher king. To them, a philosopher king is one who makes decisions based

02:51on wisdom, morality, and justice. He neither lusts for wealth like a merchant nor for power like a

02:56soldier. The philosopher king prioritizes public interest and promotes social justice. In the

03:03context of the present era, this prediction of Plato proves true even in today's era.

03:10In many countries where the business class or the military class is ruling, there are problems like

03:15social inequality, corruption, oppression, and popular discontent. In these circumstances, in the

03:21light of Plato's ideas, we need to understand that the main purpose of governance should be public

03:26service and the establishment of justice, not the pursuit of personal interests. Plato's words are

03:31still a beacon for us today. His insights teach us that governance requires individuals based on

03:37the principles of wisdom, justice, and public service. Unless governance is based on such

03:42principles, real progress and prosperity will not be possible in the state.

03:46If you liked my video, don't forget to like, comment and subscribe.

Plato (Aflaatoon) | The Architect of Western Philosophy!

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