Plato - Cratylus: "Tyranny naturally arises out of democracy"

Plato's life was profoundly influenced by his education from esteemed teachers and his encounters with Socrates, whose philosophical debates shaped his thinking. The backdrop of the Peloponnesian War and his service in Athens further defined his experiences. After years of travel and study across the Mediterranean, he returned to Athens to establish the Academy around 385 B.C.E., aiming to cultivate future leaders through a comprehensive curriculum. His writings, spanning various subjects, continue to resonate, marking him as a pivotal figure in Western philosophy until his death in 348 B.C.E.