# Plato — Discourses character guide

> Plato in Discourses by Epictetus.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0004-i-of-the-things-which-are-in-our-power-and-not-in-our-power

## Who they are

Philosopher and student of Socrates, frequently referenced.

## In the story

### [VIII: That the Faculties Are Not Safe to the Uninstructed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/viii-that-the-faculties-are-not-safe-to-the-uninstructed)

Mentioned as an example of a philosopher who also possessed non-essential attributes like handsomeness and strength.

### [How We Must Adapt Preconceptions to Particular Cases](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/xvii-how-we-must-adapt-preconceptions-to-particular-cases)

Mentioned as an example of someone who subjects definitions to the preconception of the useful, and criticized by Theopompus for defining everything.

### [How We Should Struggle Against Appearances](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/xviii-how-we-should-struggle-against-appearances)

Quoted for his advice to have recourse to expiations and to seek the society of noble and just men when tempted.

### [Book IV: On Freedom and Familiar Intimacy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/book-iv)

Referenced for the idea of studying not only to die but also to endure torture, exile, and scourging as part of giving up what is not one's own.

### [About Freedom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/i-about-freedom)

Referenced for the teaching to study not only to die but also to endure torture, exile, and scourging.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/characters/plato
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/characters