Plato (ca. 427-347 BCE), the author of the Gorgias, was one of the major early philosophers of the Western tradition. A student of Socrates, Plato came from an aristocratic family with established political ties. Plato quickly became disillusioned with Athenian politics, which he evidently regarded as corrupt and dangerous; he was especially disturbed by the execution of his teacher Socrates in 399 BCE. Instead of pursuing a career in politics, Plato styled himself a “philosopher” and explored the ethical questions that had so interested Socrates, seeking in particular the meaning of justice, the nature of the soul, and the best way to govern.

In the early fourth century BCE, Plato founded the Academy, the first formal institution devoted to philosophical investigation and instruction. Plato became convinced that the ideal society would be ruled by philosophers, and even tried to make this theory into a practical reality by traveling to Sicily to advise Dionysius II, the tyrant of the powerful city of Syracuse. Plato’s attempts to turn Dionysius into a philosopher king failed miserably, however, and after his final visit Plato barely managed to escape with his life.

Plato authored more than 20 philosophical dialogues, an innovative genre than Plato himself had developed (the authenticity of the 13 letters attributed to Plato is still debated).