Why did Karl Popper disagree with Plato?

In particular, Popper accuses Plato of betraying Socrates in the Republic, wherein Plato portrays Socrates sympathizing with totalitarianism (see: Socratic problem). Popper also suspects that Plato was the victim of his own vanity, and had wished to become the supreme philosopher king of his vision.

Is Socrates only Plato’s spokesman?

Whereas the Socrates of Plato’s Apology assumes that there is no need to place limits on philosophical inquiry, the Socrates of the Republic—who speaks as the mouthpiece of Plato—holds that in an ideal society this kind of activity would be carefully regulated.

Why is Plato an enemy of open society?

According to Popper, what makes Plato an enemy of the open society is his ‘holism’. The ideal state of Plato’s Republic is thus a ‘totalitarian’ vision of utopia. Against this, Popper argues that there can be no uniquely ‘rational state’.

Was Plato a philosopher or a scientist?

Although Plato is predominantly considered a philosopher, he was also one of ancient Greece’s most acclaimed scientists. Encouraged by Pythagoras, he established his Academy in Athens in 387 BC, where he focused on science as a method for exploring the real world.

How long was Plato in the military?

Plato was in military service from 409 BC to 404 BC but at this time he wanted a political career rather than a military one. At the end of the war he joined the oligarchy of the Thirty Tyrants in Athens set up in 404 BC, one of whose leaders being his mother’s brother Charmides, but their violent acts meant that Plato quickly left.

Why did Plato leave Athens in 403 BC?

At the end of the war he joined the oligarchy of the Thirty Tyrants in Athens set up in 404 BC, one of whose leaders being his mother’s brother Charmides, but their violent acts meant that Plato quickly left. In 403 BC there was a restoration of democracy at Athens and Plato had great hopes that he would be able to enter politics again.

How did Plato introduce his relatives in his dialogues?

In contrast to his reticence about himself, Plato often introduced his distinguished relatives into his dialogues or referred to them with some precision. In addition to Adeimantus and Glaucon in the Republic, Charmides has a dialogue named after him; and Critias speaks in both Charmides and Protagoras.