# Plato (427-347 B.C.) Greek philosopher and educator, born in Athens. In 387 B.C., he founded a school of philosophy known as the Academy which became the first university known in history. One of his essays covered the subject of individual ethics and the question "What is the human good ?" Plato was an idealist who believed that one had to isolate oneself from life in an ivory tower in order to figure life out.