ACADEMY, PLATO'S (Greek, Ακαδημεια, Ακαδημια) — a higher school fou!e! "# Pla$o

i A$hes i %& C as a associa$io of leare! e *ho *ere !e!ica$e! $o i!e+e!e$

research, $eachig, a! $o $he cul$ of $he uses

Pla$o fou!e! his o* school af$er re$urig fro his firs$ $ri+ $o Sicil# The school *as

loca$e! ear $he hill -oloos i $he gar!es a! gro.es e/$ $o $he g#asiu a! +ark of

Aka!eos (01234567), a A$heia hero *ho re.eale! *here 8ele *as hi!!e Pla$o

ac9uire! $he gar!e a! "uil$ a house *i$h a +or$ico a! a cha+el !e!ica$e! $o $he uses

O.er $ie $he school $ook o $he ae :Aca!e#: fro $he ae of $he hero There *ere

sole cele"ra$ios of $he "ir$h!a# of $he +a$ro of sages a! $he ruler of $he $e+le i

Del+hi — $he Go! A+ollo; o $he sae $he "ir$h of Pla$o *as cele"ra$e!, a! $he eor# of

Socra$es *as also coeora$e! *i$h "a9ue$s

T8E O<GA=>?AT>O= O@ PLATO'S ACADEMY As $he fou!er of $he Aca!e#, Pla$o ha!

$he lifelog !igifie! +osi$io of $hiasarch (scholarch) Pla$o a++oi$e! S+eussi+us as his

successor, "u$ $hereaf$er $he scholarch *as elec$e! for life "# $he #oug e"ers The

#ou$hful e"ers hel! all $he ior offices, eg, ga$ekee+er for $he $e+le (*ho *as

cocere! *i$h $he offerig of sacrifices), secre$ar# (*ho regis$ere! $he e"ers), a! cesor

(*ho +re+are! s#+osia a! *ho ke+$ or!er i $he) The s#+osia ("a9ue$s) *ere

regar!e! i $he Aca!e# as sole fes$i.e ac$s a! *ere +rece!e! "# sacrifice or +ra#er

Pla$o sa* $o i$ $ha$ o!era$io *as o"ser.e! i sesual o#s so $ha$ $he s#+osiu "# $he

 +ro+er use of $he i$ellec$'s +o*er coul! "ecoe +riaril# a o# for $he soul Pla$o's follo*ers

(eg, S+eussi+us) !e.elo+e! rules for $he s#+osia

To!a# soe scholars 9ues$io $he .ie* $ha$ Pla$o's Aca!e# *as a "a! or B267 for $he

*orshi+ of $he uses a! A+ollo, $he lor! of $he uses, al$hough $he s$rog "o!s of such a

 "a! *oul! e/+lai $he "roa! au$oo# a! +ersis$ece of $he school as a is$i$u$io $ha$

relie! o a u$oucha"le es$a$e *hich *as a hol# +ro+er$# The e"ers of Pla$o's Aca!e#

coul! ol# ake use of $his +ro+er$# Sice i$ *as i.iola"le, i$ reaie! u!iiishe! for

ce$uries The school ha! o s$a$u$es >$s orgaia$io !e+e!e! u+o $he !irec$or >$ acce+$e!

 "o$h #oug !isci+les (eg, Aris$o$le a$ se.e$ee #ears of age), a! a$ure scholars (eg,

Eu!o/us of Ci!us, *ho cae $o Pla$o's Aca!e# *i$h his o* !isci+le) efore soeoe

*as acce+$e! i$o Pla$o's Aca!e#, he ha! $o +ass a e/aia$io co!uc$e! "# Pla$o

hiself The $eachig *as i $he for of lec$ures, seiars, collo9uia a! !iscussios (ci$e!

$e/$s *ere $he s$ar$ig +oi$ i o+eig a !iscussio) The !iscussios $ook +lace *hile $he#

s$rolle! a"ou$ $he gar!e or i $he +or$icos of $he ci$# The as$er hiself, Pla$o, hel!

lec$ures Fhe he *as $ra.elig, s$u!e$s *oul! lec$ure i his +lace The school *as e!o*e!

*i$h la"ora$oria a! a li"rar# The li"rar# +ossesse!, aog o$her $higs, $he *ri$igs of $he

as$er as $he# a++eare! i successio Pla$o's Aca!e# for $he firs$ $ie i $he his$or# of

e!uca$io le! $o co$ac$ "e$*ee $he .arious scieces >$ of$e looke! i +ar$ $o $he $ra!i$ios

of $he school of P#$hagoras, a! "ecae a o!el i$self for o$her schools $he Aris$o$elia,

S$oic a! E+icurea schools, a! i a cer$ai *a# i$ *as $he "egiig of $he ui.ersi$ies of

$he fu$ure Pla$o's !isci+les cae fro a# ci$ies i or$her Greece, Mace!oia, a! $he

shores of $he lack Sea

T8E D>DACT>C GOALS O@ PLATO'S ACADEMY Pla$o regar!e! $he e!uca$io of :fi$$ig

souls: as his os$ i+or$a$ ai i life, ore i+or$a$ $ha his o* +hiloso+hical *ork

( Phaedr , HI E; H a) Pla$o s$a$e! $ha$ $he ai of $he Aca!e# *as $o e!uca$e !isci+les,

 +hiloso+hers *ho i $he fu$ure *oul! occu+# +osi$ios of au$hori$# i $he s$a$e a! "e gui!e!

ACADEMY, PLATO'S PE@ J K Co+#righ$ "# Polskie To*ar#s$*o Toasa Ak*iu

 

 "# $rue +hiloso+h# > Pla$o's Aca!e#, e!uca$io ha! $he +ur+ose of forig fu$ure e of

s$a$e as sages a! +oli$icias, a chose grou+ of us$ e fore! i $he goo! *ho *oul!

 +ro+aga$e us$ice fro $he Aca!e# $o socie$# :N> *as force! $o sa#, *he +raisig $rue

 +hiloso+h# $ha$ i$ is "# $his $ha$ e are ea"le! $o see *ha$ us$ice i +u"lic a! +ri.a$e life

reall# is Therefore, > sai!, $here *ill "e o cessa$io of e.ils for $he sos of e, $ill ei$her

$hose *ho are +ursuig a righ$ a! $rue +hiloso+h# recei.e so.ereig +o*er i $he S$a$es, or

$hose i +o*er i $he S$a$es "# soe !is+esa$io of +ro.i!ece "ecoe $rue +hiloso+hers:

( Epist., >> %HI ) Pla$o of$e e/+resse! $he !esire $ha$ $he sae +eo+le shoul! "e

 +hiloso+hers a! $he rulers of grea$ s$a$es 8o*e.er, Pla$o s$a$es i$ $akes half a ce$ur# $o

for a a, sice a e!uca$e! +hiloso+her shoul! s$ill s+e! fif$ee #ears i $he ac$i.e life of

$he +oli$ical coui$# $o ac9uire e/+eriece a! "a$$le $e+$a$ios Ol# $hose *ho ha.e

cul$i.a$e! +hiloso+h# *i$h +erse.erace for a log $ie are ca+a"le of $akig u+ $hese goals

:Ni$ !oes o$ a!i$ of e/+osi$io like o$her "raches of ko*le!ge; "u$ af$er uch

co.erse a"ou$ $he a$$er i$self a! a life li.e! $oge$her, su!!el# a ligh$, as i$ *ere, is

ki!le! i oe soul "# a flae $ha$ lea+s $o i$ fro ao$her, a! $hereaf$er sus$ais i$self: The

$eachig of +hiloso+h# a# a*ake such a illuia$ig ko*le!ge (or ree"race i $he

soul), a! ol# $his ca $rul# for a! e!uca$e $he free a

TEAC8>=G >= PLATO'S ACADEMY The ca!i!a$es for +hiloso+h# ha! $o u!ergo a

fi$$ig +re+ara$io Pla$o a!e a$hea$ics $he i$ro!uc$io $o +hiloso+h# 8e hel! $ha$ $he

s$u!# of a$hea$ics *as of grea$ "eefi$ i forig i$ellec$ual skills Accor!ig $o lege!,

iscri"e! o.er $he e$race of $he Aca!e# *ere $he *or!s :Le$ o oe e$er here *ho !oes

o$ ko* geoe$r#: > $he Republic (>> H& a), Pla$o classifie! $he a$hea$ical scieces

o $he "asis of $he .ie*s of $he P#$hagoreas The# !i.i!e! $he a$hea$ical scieces

accor!ig $o $he 9ues$ios each as*ere! The 9ues$io :ho* a#: "eloge! $o ari$he$ic

a! usic :8o* grea$: *as $he 9ues$io of geoe$r# a! echaics Pla$o +rese$e! $he

a$hea$ical scieces i $he follo*ig or!er ari$he$ic, geoe$r# (he !is$iguishe! +lae

geoe$r# — or +laie$r#, a! s+a$ial geoe$r# — s$ereoe$r#), as$roo#, a! usic 8e

$hough$ $ha$ $hese scieces are coec$e! "# foral rela$ios $ha$ ca "e see, for e/a+le, i

$heir !iiishig !egrees of a"s$rac$io The a$hea$ical scieces e$ioe! a"o.e +u$ $o

$he $es$ a! e/ercise $he i!s of s$u!e$s *ho are ca+a"le of +hiloso+hical e!i$a$ios The

ca!i!a$es for +hiloso+h# ca "e chose fro aog $he s$u!e$s of a$hea$ics Accor!ig

$o Pla$o, i$ is o$ eough $o s$a# a$ $he le.el of $eachig a! lec$ures o $he +rici+les of

u"ers, "u$ $he i!s of s$u!e$s shoul! "e !irec$e! $o e.er ore a"s$rac$ le.els of $hough$,

eg, $he# a# s$ar$ fro $he firs$ $hree u"ers a! +ass o $o e!i$a$ios o $he a"s$rac$

coce+$s of ui$# a! +lurali$# These e!i$a$ios ca facili$a$e $he $rasi$io of $he soul fro

ko*le!ge of $he *orl! of chagig $higs $o a i$ui$io of $he *orl! of "eigs :*i$hou$

for:, ael# $o a i$ui$io of i!eas > $he sae *a#, as$roo# is a a$hea$ical sciece

$ha$ s$u!ies $he co"ia$io of re+e$i$i.e c#clical o$ios, a! i$ lea!s a$ $he e! $o $he

!isco.er# of $he +la of $he !eiurge *ho es$a"lishe! $he or!er of $he *orl!

T8E STAGES O@ DEELOPME=T O@ PLATO'S ACADEMY The Ol! Aca!e# Pla$o

*as $he scholarch of $he Aca!e# for for$# #ears a! !e.elo+e! his +hiloso+hical s#s$e

$here Af$er $he !ea$h of $he as$er, $he firs$ !irec$or of Pla$o's Aca!e# *as his e+he*

S+eusi++us (%QR%%) S+eusi++us +riaril# s$u!ie! $he $heor# of logical classifica$ios a!

$he sciece of u"ers The e/$ scholarch *as eocra$es of Chalce!o (%%J%UQ) *ho

s$u!ie! !eoolog# (Pla$oic $heolog#) The $hir! scholarch af$er Pla$o *as Poleo of

A$hes (%UQJHI) *ho chiefl# s$u!ie! e$hics > HI&, Cra$es "riefl# rule! $he Aca!e# a!

*as also i$eres$e! i e$hics Soe of $he !isci+les *ho co$ri"u$e! $o $he fae of $he Ol!

Aca!e# *ere 8eracli!es of Po$us (he fou!e! his o* school), Eu!o/us of Ci!us,

ACADEMY, PLATO'S PE@ J K Co+#righ$ "# Polskie To*ar#s$*o Toasa Ak*iu

 

Phili++us of O+us (a as$rooer), a! Cra$or of Soloi ($he firs$ coe$a$or of Pla$o's

Timaeus) The os$ faous !isci+le of Pla$o *as Aris$o$le (%&QJ%HH), *ho crea$e! his o*

grea$ +hiloso+hical s#s$e a! fou!e! his o* school, $he L#ceu The Peri+a$os

(Aris$o$le's L#ceu) a! $he S$oa (?eo of Ci$iu *as a !isci+le of $he C#ic Cra$es a! of

$he Aca!eic Poleo, "o$h scholarchs of Pla$o's Aca!e#) are regar!e! as i!e+e!e$

 "raches of Pla$o's Aca!e#

The Mi!!le Aca!e# The school !e+ar$e! sigifica$l# fro Pla$o's $eachigs a! o.e!

i $he !irec$io of sce+$icis *he Arcesilaus (%URHQV) "ecae scholarch Arcesilaus hel!

$ha$ *e a# ha.e ol# su"ec$i.e cer$ai$# of $he $ru$h, "u$ o$ cer$ai$# as referrig $o $he

*orl! Soe $ie af$er Arcesilaus, Carea!es (HUQRUH) *as scholarch Carea!es co$iue!

i sce+$icis a! +roclaie! a $heor# of +ro"a"ili$# Accor!ig $o hi, $he i.es$iga$io of

e$al iages lea!s us $o $he .arious !egrees of +ro"a"ili$#

The =e* Aca!e# Af$er Philo of Larissa hel! $he +osi$io of scholarch (c UUV C), $he

Aca!e# $rie! $o re$ur $o Pla$o's origial $eachig, "u$ i$ leae! $o*ar! S$oicis, *hile

o!era$ig $he +osi$ios of Sce+$icis a! allo*ig for $he +ossi"ili$# of soe ko*le!ge of

$higs asicall#, $he Aca!e# *as iclie! $o eclec$icis a! co"ie! $he os$ acce+$a"le

.ie*s of $he S$oics, Sce+$ics, Pla$ois$s, a! la$er $he Peri+a$e$ics as *ell A$iochus of

Ascalo (U%VJI C) i$ro!uc$e! elec$icis i$o Pla$o's Aca!e# a! hel! $ha$ ui.ersal or

coo co.ic$io is $he cri$eriu for $ru$h

Pla$o's Aca!e# la$er *oul! "e ore a! ore ifluece! "# eoJP#$hagoreais The

Aca!e# !e.elo+e! i !iffere$ ci$ies a! $hese offshoo$s *ere o$ al*a#s coec$e! *i$h

$he A$heia hoe of Pla$o's Aca!e# Fi$h Aoius Saccas (! c HQH AD), *e a# "egi

$o s+eak of a eoJPla$oic school, a! Aoius Saccas is regar!e! as $he ii$ia$or of eoJ

Pla$ois Plo$ius (HVQRHV) *as his !isci+le for ele.e #ears i his Ale/a!ria school The

S#ria school !e.elo+e! $he eoJPla$oic coce+$ios (Por+h#r# of S#ria, >a"lichus of

Ceole S#ria) The ai re+rese$a$i.es of eoJPla$ois i Pla$o's Aca!e# *ho !e.elo+e!

$heir .ie*s i $he A$heia school a$ $he e! of $he four$h ce$ur# a! $he "egiig of $he

fif$h ce$ur# *ere Plu$arch of A$hes, $he so of =es$orius, Proclus, Marius of =a+les,

>si!ore, Daascius a! Si+licius Pla$o's Aca!e# i A$hes *as close! i H AD af$er

alos$ ie ce$uries "# $he coa! of $he E+eror Wus$iia Wus$iia ga.e a s+ecial e!ic$

$ha$ :hecefor$h e.er agai shall $here a#oe lec$ure o +hiloso+h# or e/+lai $he la*s i

A$hes: (Codex Iustinianum Af$er $his e!ic$, $he Pla$ois$s fle! $o Persia

? Wor!a, O matematycznych podstawach systemu Platona O $he a$hea$ical fou!a$ios

of Pla$o's s#s$eN, P U%; @ E"#, C @ Arro*oo!, The History and Philosophy of

 Education ncient and !edie"al , EC UQV, UI%UH; Xe"er*eg >>> (+assi); P <ich,  #e

l$%ducation anti&ue ' l$%ducation che"areles&ue, P UI&; M Clarke, Hi(her Education in the

 ncient )orld , Lo UU; W P L#ch,  ristotle$s *chool. *tudy of a +ree, Educational

 Institution, e, Los Ageles, Lo UH; < arro*,  Plato and Education, Lo UI; F - C

Gu$hrie,  History of +ree, Philosophy , C U&; - Gaiser, Philodemos cademica. #ie

 -erichte ber Platon und die alte ,ademie, S$ a! Cas$a$$ U&&; <eale >

Maria W Go!ek 

ACADEMY, PLATO'S PE@ J K Co+#righ$ "# Polskie To*ar#s$*o Toasa Ak*iu