Famous Latin prose writer, Apuleius states that Speusippus admired Plato’s wit and modesty to a great extent. He says that Plato’s youth was infused with love for a lot of hard work and a fondness for studies. Diogenes notifies us that it was Plato himself, who later characterized the facility of learning, human memory, human sagacity, the speed of apprehension, the youthful human spirit and the magnificent soul as gifts of nature to mankind.

Plato’s education, like any other Athenian man’s, comprised of physical and mental development. Instructions in the field of grammar must have surely been an integral part of his formal education. Music, gymnastics and painting would have been the other important fragments of his formal education. Coming from a very rich family, Plato is sure to have been educated by the best of teachers present in his era.

Apart from his philosophical education, Plato excelled in his physical education. He was as famous for his exploits at the wrestling arena as he was for his philosophies. According to Dichaearchus, Plato participated at the Isthmian Games and did very well in wrestling. Apuleius, who was well known for his study in Platonic philosophy and Platonic history, mentions that Plato also went on to take part in the Pythian Games. Before coming in contact with Socrates, Plato attended numerous courses on philosophy. He had initially established contact with Cratylus, a famous disciple of Heraclitus, and acquainted himself with the Heraclitean doctrines. According to numerous ancient Greek writers, Plato’s favorite job, during his youth, was to write poetry. He managed to write numerous tragedies and lyric poems during his youth. However, this youthful passion soon died down when Plato met Socrates for the first time.

There is also a legend which states that on the day Socrates was entrusted with Plato, he publicly said that a swan had been deposited on his doorstep. There are also many other Socratic epigrams that glorify Plato, but many scholars now believe that those epigrams were spurious. Modern day scholars also believe that Plato was probably still in his youth when he was introduced to Socrates for the first time.

Description: Coming from a very rich family, Plato was educated in physical exercises, philosophy, grammar, music and gymnastics. He is said to have been educated by the best of teacher present in his era because of his upper class family background.