Plato was an Ancient Greek philosopher who lived from 428/427 BC to 348/347 BC. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential thinkers in Western philosophy and is known for his works such as The Republic, Symposium, and Phaedo. Plato was a student of Socrates and was the founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. He is also credited with laying the foundations of Western political philosophy.