Philosophers — Week2
In continuation from Philosophers — Week1, I will cover the life of Gautama Buddha, and the life of Plato.
Siddhārtha Gautama, also known as Gautama Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha, or simply the Buddha, was a sage who lived between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE and founded Buddhism, a major world religion. He was born in Lumbini (present-day Nepal) to Queen Mahamaya and King Śuddhodana of the Shakya clan. Legend has it that upon his birth, it was prophesied that he would either become a great king or a great spiritual teacher. His father, hoping Siddhārtha would become a great king, shielded him from the realities of life, providing him every luxury and preventing him from witnessing suffering. At a young age, Siddhārtha was married to a woman named Yasodhara, with whom he had a son named Rahula.
While venturing outside the palace walls, Siddhārtha encountered four significant sights that changed the course of his life. He saw an old man, symbolizing aging, followed by a sick man, symbolizing illness. After that, he witnessed a dead body, symbolizing death. While returning to his palace, he chanced upon an ascetic, symbolizing the quest for enlightenment and liberation from suffering.
These encounters made him realize the impermanence of life and the inevitability of suffering.
At the age of 29, deeply affected by these insights and determined to find a way to overcome suffering, Siddhārtha renounced his princely life. He left his family and embarked on a spiritual quest.
For six years, Siddhārtha subjected himself to rigorous ascetic practices, believing that self-denial and mortification would lead to enlightenment. He studied under renowned spiritual teachers of his time and even practiced extreme fasting. He realized that such practices did not bring him closer to the truth.
Deciding to abandon asceticism, Siddhārtha chose the “Middle Way” — a path of moderation away from the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification. Sitting under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya (present-day India), he meditated deeply and attained enlightenment, becoming the Buddha (“The Enlightened One”).
During this profound meditation, he realized the Four Noble Truths, which form the core of Buddhist teachings:
- The truth of suffering (dukkha)
- The truth of the cause of suffering (samudaya)
- The truth of the end of suffering (nirodha)
- The truth of the path leading to the end of suffering (magga)
After his enlightenment, Buddha traveled extensively across the Indian subcontinent, sharing his teachings for 45 years. He formed a monastic community called the Sangha, which included monks, nuns, and lay followers.
At the age of 80, in Kushinagar (present-day Uttar Pradesh, India), the Buddha entered Parinirvana, or final nirvana, which is the death of someone who has attained enlightenment.
Buddha’s teachings spread across Asia, leading to the establishment of various schools and traditions of Buddhism. His teachings emphasized compassion, ethics, mindfulness, and wisdom.
Today, Buddhism is a major world religion, with followers across the globe practicing and finding solace in the Buddha’s teachings. The principles he laid down continue to inspire millions in their quest for peace, happiness, and enlightenment.
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Plato (c. 428–348 BCE) is one of the most influential figures in Western philosophy, and his works have had a lasting impact on a range of disciplines, from political theory to mathematics.
Plato was born in Athens, Greece, around 428/427 BCE, into an aristocratic family with connections to the political elite of the city. His birth name was Aristocles, but he later acquired the nickname “Plato,” which possibly means “broad” in Greek, perhaps in reference to his physical build or the breadth of his thought. His family was of noble lineage: his father, Ariston, claimed descent from the kings of Athens, while his mother, Perictione, was related to the early Athenian lawmaker Solon. Plato had two brothers, Glaucon and Adeimantus, and a sister, Potone.
As a member of the Athenian aristocracy, Plato would have received a comprehensive education, including studies in poetry, music, gymnastics, and philosophy. The Sophists, traveling educators who taught rhetoric and other subjects, were influential during Plato’s youth, and he would have been familiar with their teachings.
The most significant influence on Plato’s intellectual development was his association with Socrates, the iconic philosopher who became his mentor. Unlike many thinkers of his time, Socrates did not write down his teachings, so much of what we know about him comes from Plato’s dialogues.
The political climate in Athens was tumultuous during Plato’s youth, culminating in the trial and execution of Socrates in 399 BCE. Socrates was charged with impiety and corrupting the youth of Athens. Plato was profoundly affected by the unjust death of his mentor. This event, combined with his disillusionment with the Athenian democracy that had condemned Socrates, led Plato to explore the nature of justice and the ideal state.
After Socrates’ death, Plato traveled extensively, visiting places like Egypt, Italy, and Sicily. During his travels, he was exposed to a variety of philosophical and mathematical ideas, especially the works of Pythagoras and his followers.
Around 387 BCE, Plato founded the Academy in Athens, one of the earliest institutions of higher learning in the Western world. It wasn’t a university in the modern sense but rather a place for intellectual discussion and research. The Academy attracted students from all over the Greek world, including the famous philosopher Aristotle.
Plato’s writings are primarily in the form of dialogues, where characters discuss philosophical topics. Some of his most famous works include:
The Republic: A detailed exploration of justice, the nature of the soul, and the ideal state.
The Symposium: A series of speeches on the nature of love.
Phaedo: A discussion on the immortality of the soul, set on the day of Socrates’ death.
Meno and Phaedrus: Works that explore virtue and the nature of knowledge.
Plato passed away in Athens around 348/347 BCE, at the age of 80 or 81. His philosophical legacy is vast. Through his writings, Plato laid the groundwork for many areas of Western philosophy, including epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and political theory. In addition to his philosophical contributions, Plato’s Academy continued to influence intellectual thought for centuries, even after his death. His student, Aristotle, went on to establish his own school and further developed many of the ideas introduced by Plato.
Throughout history, Plato’s ideas have been debated, expanded upon, and sometimes criticized, but his influence remains undeniable. He is often regarded as one of the foundational figures of Western thought, and his works continue to be studied and revered to this day.
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