# Plato — The Religion of Nature Delineated character guide

> Plato in The Religion of Nature Delineated by William Wollaston.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Plato

**First appearance:** 0004-i-of-moral-good-and-evil

## Snapshot

Greek philosopher whose definition of truth as 'that which has real existence' haunts the book's attempt to ground morality in fact.

## Who they are

He enters through the Eleatic Stranger in the Sophist, defining truth as τὸ ὄντως ὄν — that which really is — a formulation Wollaston borrows to argue that acting rightly means not denying any truth. The tension is metaphysical: if truth is what truly exists, then every lie is a small assault on reality itself. He matters because his equation of truth with being gives the book its most audacious claim.

## Relationships

### [Clement of Alexandria](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_religion_of_nature_delineated_se/characters/clement_of_alexandria)

_professional_

Clement of Alexandria frequently references Plato, integrating Platonic philosophy into Christian theology.

### [Unknown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_religion_of_nature_delineated_se/characters/unknown)

_social_

Plato has limited interactions with an unknown figure, likely representing a generic philosophical dialogue.

### [A Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_religion_of_nature_delineated_se/characters/a_man)

_professional_

A Man references Plato's ideas, particularly on the soul and the divine, in constructing a natural theology.

### [Clement of Alexandria](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_religion_of_nature_delineated_se/characters/clement_of_alexandria)

_professional_

Clement of Alexandria frequently references Plato, integrating Platonic philosophy into Christian theology.

### [A Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_religion_of_nature_delineated_se/characters/a_man)

_professional_

A Man references Plato's ideas, particularly on the soul and the divine, in constructing a natural theology.

## In the story

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_religion_of_nature_delineated_se/chapters/endnotes)

Referenced for the assertion in the Republic that no man is just voluntarily, and for the Socratic view in the Crito that one should heed the one who knows truth rather than the multitude.

## Links

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