Academy

Definition

The Academy was a famous school of philosophy founded by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato in Athens. It was a place of learning and intellectual discourse, where Plato and his followers engaged in the study of various subjects, including philosophy, mathematics, and the sciences.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Academy was founded by Plato around 385 BCE and operated for almost 900 years, making it one of the longest-running educational institutions in the ancient world.
2. The curriculum at the Academy focused on the study of philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, and other sciences, with a strong emphasis on the pursuit of knowledge and the cultivation of virtue.
3. Plato's philosophical views, known as Platonic Idealism, were central to the teachings of the Academy, which held that there exists a realm of perfect, eternal, and immutable forms or ideas that are the true reality.
4. The Academy was organized around the dialectic method, which involved the systematic questioning and examination of ideas and beliefs to arrive at a deeper understanding of the truth.
5. Many of the most influential philosophers and thinkers in the ancient world, including Aristotle, were associated with the Academy at some point in their careers.

Review Questions

• Describe the key features and purpose of the Academy founded by Plato.
  • The Academy was a renowned school of philosophy founded by Plato in Athens, which operated for nearly 900 years, making it one of the longest-running educational institutions in the ancient world. The Academy was dedicated to the study of philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, and other sciences, with a strong emphasis on the pursuit of knowledge and the cultivation of virtue. The curriculum was organized around Plato's philosophical views, known as Platonic Idealism, which held that there exists a realm of perfect, eternal, and immutable forms or ideas that are the true reality. The Academy also utilized the dialectic method, which involved the systematic questioning and examination of ideas and beliefs to arrive at a deeper understanding of the truth.
• Analyze the influence and legacy of the Academy on the development of ancient Greek philosophy and education.
  • The Academy had a profound and lasting impact on the development of ancient Greek philosophy and education. As one of the most influential philosophical schools in the ancient world, the Academy attracted many of the most prominent thinkers and scholars of the time, including Aristotle, who was a student at the Academy before founding his own school, the Peripatetic School. The Academy's focus on the pursuit of knowledge and the cultivation of virtue, as well as its use of the dialectic method, helped to shape the trajectory of Western philosophy and the way that knowledge and learning were approached in the ancient world. The Academy's long-running success and its enduring influence on subsequent philosophical and educational traditions underscores its significance as a seminal institution in the history of ancient Greek thought and learning.
• Evaluate the role of Platonic Idealism in shaping the curriculum and pedagogical approach of the Academy.
  • Platonic Idealism, the philosophical views developed by Plato, were central to the teachings and curriculum of the Academy. Plato's belief in the existence of a realm of perfect, eternal, and immutable forms or ideas that constitute the true reality, as opposed to the physical world, which is merely a reflection or imperfect copy of this ideal realm, fundamentally shaped the Academy's approach to education and the pursuit of knowledge. The Academy's focus on the study of philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, and other sciences was driven by the belief that these disciplines could provide insights into the nature of the ideal forms and the underlying structure of reality. The dialectic method, which involved the systematic questioning and examination of ideas and beliefs, was also a key feature of the Academy's pedagogical approach, as it was seen as a means of uncovering the truth and gaining a deeper understanding of the ideal forms. The enduring influence of Platonic Idealism on the Academy's curriculum and teaching methods underscores the profound impact of Plato's philosophical views on the development of ancient Greek education and intellectual thought.

Related terms

Platonic Idealism: The philosophical view developed by Plato that there exists a realm of perfect, eternal, and immutable forms or ideas, which are the true reality, and the physical world is merely a reflection or imperfect copy of this ideal realm.

Dialectic:

The method of argument and reasoning used by Plato and his followers, which involves the systematic questioning and examination of ideas and beliefs to arrive at a deeper understanding of the truth.

Peripatetic School: The school of philosophy founded by Aristotle, a former student of Plato, which was located in the Lyceum, a gymnasium in Athens, and emphasized the importance of empirical observation and the study of the natural world.