Plato: The Dawn of Thought

In this seven-hour course, Dr. Orr explores Plato's intellectual and cultural world, examining his challenges to dominant philosophical traditions and the influence of Socrates on his thought. We delve into Plato's Dialogues, which capture Socrates' character and ideas, and expose the ignorance of assumed experts. The course covers Plato's Theory of Forms, his vision of the ideal city-state, and the afterlives of his ideas, tracing their influence through key figures and their fusion with Hebraic and Christian traditions. We conclude by discussing the enduring relevance of Platonic thought in mathematics, myth, and meaning, and its significance for navigating truth, knowledge, and the human condition in our current age.