# Plato — The Problems of Philosophy character guide

> Plato in The Problems of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0009-viii-how-a-priori-knowledge-is-possible

## Snapshot

The ancient philosopher whose theory of universals gave Western thought its first and most enduring account of what abstract knowledge is knowledge of.

## Who they are

Plato stands behind Russell's discussion of universals, the realm of abstract entities that mathematics and language seem to require. His vision of an open world of free possibilities—where much remains unknown because there is so much to know—echoes through the book's closing reflections on why philosophy is worth studying at all. He matters because he supplies the alternative to pure empiricism: the idea that some things are known not by encounter but by reason, and that this knowledge is what gives unity to the sciences.

## Relationships

### [Bishop Berkeley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_problems_of_philosophy_se/characters/bishop_berkeley)

_professional_

Berkeley and Plato are linked by their shared idealist philosophies, though with significant differences.

## In the story

### [The Problems of Philosophy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_problems_of_philosophy_se/chapters/the-problems-of-philosophy)

His theory of universals is presented as a key philosophical concept.

### [IX: The World of Universals](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_problems_of_philosophy_se/chapters/ix-the-world-of-universals)

Russell presents Plato's theory of ideas as the foundation for understanding universals, noting that the chapter's view is largely Plato's with modifications.

### [Bibliographical Note](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_problems_of_philosophy_se/chapters/bibliographical-note)

Recommended work: Republic, especially Books VI and VII.

## Links

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