# Plato — The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers character guide > Plato in The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers by Diogenes Laërtius. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Book III Plato, The solemn Plato **First appearance:** 0001-the-lives-and-opinions-of-eminent-philosophers ## Snapshot Founder of the Academy whose solemn dialogues and unwritten doctrines turned Socrates' questions into a philosophical empire. ## Who they are Plato stands at the center of Diogenes Laërtius's third book, the heir who gave Socrates' restless questioning a school, a system, and a library of dialogues. His relationship to his teacher is the book's great hinge: he preserved Socrates in writing while transforming him into a metaphysician of transcendent Forms. Early in the Lives, Plato's Academy becomes the institution against which every later sect — Cynic, Stoic, Epicurean — defines itself, making him the gravitational center of the whole succession. ## Relationships ### [Socrates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters/socrates) _professional_ Plato was Socrates' most famous student, recording his teachings and philosophy. ### [Speusippus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters/speusippus) _family_ Speusippus was Plato's nephew and succeeded him as head of the Academy. ### [Aristotle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters/aristotle) _professional_ Aristotle was Plato's most brilliant student, later founding his own rival school. ### [Antisthenes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters/antisthenes) _rivalry_ Antisthenes and Plato were philosophical rivals, with Antisthenes criticizing Plato's theory of Forms. ### [Xenocrates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters/xenocrates) _professional_ Xenocrates was a student of Plato and later became head of the Academy. ### [Speusippus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters/speusippus) _family_ Speusippus was Plato's nephew and succeeded him as head of the Academy. ### [Antisthenes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters/antisthenes) _rivalry_ Antisthenes and Plato were philosophical rivals, with Antisthenes criticizing Plato's theory of Forms. ### [Xenocrates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters/xenocrates) _professional_ Xenocrates was a student of Plato and later became head of the Academy. ### [Xenocrates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters/xenocrates) _professional_ Xenocrates was a student of Plato and later became head of the Academy. ### [Antisthenes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters/antisthenes) _rivalry_ Antisthenes and Plato were philosophical rivals, with Antisthenes criticizing Plato's theory of Forms. ## In the story ### [The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/the-lives-and-opinions-of-eminent-philosophers) Student of Socrates, founder of the Academy, and author of philosophical dialogues. ### [Pittacus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/pittacus) Referenced as quoting Pittacus's saying 'It is a hard thing to be good' in his dialogue Protagoras. ### [Periander](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/periander) Mentioned as contradicting Aristotle's claim that the wise Periander was the Corinthian tyrant. ### [Myson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/myson) Mentions Myson in his Protagoras, placing him among the wise men instead of Periander. ### [Book II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/book-ii) Visited Euclides after Socrates' death; criticized Aristippus in his writings; reproached Aristippus for his expensive lifestyle. ### [Socrates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/socrates) Mentioned as a recorder of Socrates' conversations in the Theaetetus and Phaedo, and as a chief successor. ### [Xenophon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/xenophon) Xenophon felt a spirit of rivalry with Plato, and they are compared in terms of their diction. ### [Aeschines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/aeschines) Looked down upon Aeschines in Sicily; attributed Crito's advice to Socrates in prison to Aeschines according to Idomeneus. ### [Aristippus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/aristippus) Reproached Aristippus for his expensive lifestyle and is said to have remarked on his ability to wear both a whole cloak and rags. ### [Euclides](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/euclides) Came to Euclides after Socrates' death, fearing the tyrants. ### [Book III: The Life, Will, and Legacy of Plato](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/book-iii) Central figure; his will, death, and legacy are detailed, along with anecdotes about his character and teachings. ### [Plato](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/plato) Central figure; his life, travels to Sicily, philosophical innovations, and death are detailed. ### [Book IV: The Successors of Plato](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/book-iv) Mentioned as the teacher of Xenocrates and Speusippus, and for his observations on their characters. ### [Speusippus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/speusippus) Speusippus's uncle and predecessor; his sister Potone was Speusippus's mother. ### [Xenocrates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/xenocrates) Xenocrates' teacher; compared him to Aristotle and urged him to 'sacrifice to the Graces.' ### [Aristotle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/aristotle) Aristotle's teacher; the chapter notes that Aristotle joined Plato at age 17 and remained with him for twenty years. ### [Theophrastus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/theophrastus) Theophrastus attended his lectures before joining Aristotle. ### [Antisthenes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/antisthenes) Mentioned as someone who spoke ill of Antisthenes, prompting Antisthenes' remark about a royal privilege. ### [Diogenes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/diogenes) Engages in a famous exchange with Diogenes about washing vegetables versus courting Dionysius. ### [Book VII: The Stoic Doctrine of Virtue and Indifferents](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/book-vii) Mentioned in connection with the doctrine of community of women among the wise. ### [Book VIII: The Pythagorean and Promiscuous Philosophers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/book-viii) Mentioned in relation to Eudoxus' studies and his exclusion from the Pythagorean school, as well as his influence on Eudoxus. ### [Pythagoras](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/pythagoras) Mentioned as having tried to purchase the three celebrated books of Philolaus for a hundred minae. ### [Archytas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/archytas) Recipient of Archytas's letters and saved by him from execution by Dionysius; exchanged philosophical commentaries with Archytas. ### [Philolaus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/philolaus) Wrote to Dion to purchase the books of Pythagoras from Philolaus; later bought Philolaus's book in Sicily. ### [Eudoxus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/eudoxus) Eudoxus was a pupil of Plato according to Sotion; later returned to Athens with disciples, possibly to annoy Plato. ### [Democritus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/democritus) Plato allegedly wished to burn Democritus's writings but was dissuaded by Pythagoreans. ### [Protagoras](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/protagoras) Referenced as the author of a dialogue addressed to Protagoras and as a source for Protagoras's views on the soul and senses. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters/plato - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters