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W.K.C. Guthrie, Life of Plato and philosophical influences

From, A History of Greek Philosophy, vol. IV, Plato: the man and his dialogues, earlier period,
Cambridge University Press, 19896, pp. 8-38. 

(Ι) LIFE  |||  (a) Sources  |||  (b) Birth and family connexions  |||  (c) Early years  |||  (d) Sicily and the Academy  |||  (2) PHILOSOPHICAL INFLUENCES  \ Greek Fonts \ Plato Home Page

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Page 12

   However, as we should expect of the author of the Laws, if not of the Republic, the primary aim of education for statesmanship never left his thoughts. It was certainly his intention that many of his pupils should leave the Academy for politics, not as power-seekers themselves but to legislate or advise those in power, and we have the names of a number who did so.[41] Best attested are Erastus and Coriscus, citizens οf Scepsis in the Troad, who after a period of study at the Academy returned to their native city where they attracted the attention of Hermias the ruler of Atarneus. Under their influence and that of Aristotle and Xenocrates he studied Platonic philosophy, and adopted a milder form of government with satisfactory results.[42] Later, Plutarch states that Plato sent his pupils Aristonymus, Phormio and Menedemus to the Arcadians, Eleans and Pyrrhaeans respectively to reform their constitutions, that Eudoxus and Aristotle both drew υp laws for their own cities, and that Alexander applied to Xenocrates for advice on kingship.[43] Eudoxus is a good example of the compatibility for a Platonist of political with scientific and philosophical work. His legislative activity at Cnidus is vouched for by Hermippus (ap. D.L. 8.88; that of Aristotle has been doubted), and he was at the same time a notable mathematician, astronomer, philosopher and (so we are told) physician. It is also said that Plato himself was invited by more than one city to draft a new constitution, but refused.[44]

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