CHAPTER V.

Life of Plato.

Scanty information about Plato's life 246

His birth, parentage, and early education 247

Early relations of Plato with Sokrates 248

Plato's youth--service as a citizen and soldier 249

Period of political ambition 251

He becomes disgusted with politics 252

He retires from Athens after the death of Sokrates--his travels 253

His permanent establishment at Athens--386 B.C. _ib._

He commences his teaching at the Academy 254

Plato as a teacher--pupils numerous and wealthy, from different cities 255

Visit of Plato to the younger Dionysius at Syracuse, 367 B.C. Second visit to the same--mortifying failure 258

Expedition of Dion against Dionysius--sympathies of Plato and the Academy 259

Success, misconduct, and death of Dion _ib._

Death of Plato, aged 80, 347 B.C. 260

Scholars of Plato--Aristotle _ib._

Little known about Plato's personal history 262