# Plato — The Everlasting Man character guide

> Plato in The Everlasting Man by G. K. Chesterton.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0009-vi-the-demons-and-the-philosophers

## Who they are

Greek philosopher, discussed in relation to ideal forms and pagan thought.

## Relationships

### [Aristotle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_everlasting_man_se/characters/aristotle)

_rivalry_

Aristotle is contrasted with his teacher Plato, emphasizing empirical realism over ideal forms.

## In the story

### [The Everlasting Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_everlasting_man_se/chapters/the-everlasting-man)

Referenced as a philosopher whose ideas about the soul and the divine are contrasted with Christian revelation.

### [Part I: On the Creature Called Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_everlasting_man_se/chapters/part-i-on-the-creature-called-man)

Mentioned in the context of ideal forms and the philosophical understanding of human nature.

### [Man and Mythologies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_everlasting_man_se/chapters/v-man-and-mythologies)

Referenced indirectly through Neo-Platonists who tried to rationalize pagan cults.

### [The God in the Cave](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_everlasting_man_se/chapters/i-the-god-in-the-cave)

Mentioned in the context of abstract transcendentalism that contrasts with the concrete reality of the cave.

### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_everlasting_man_se/chapters/conclusion)

Referenced as 'Divine Plato,' a title of honor, not a dogma, representing the philosopher class.

## Links

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