Author: Angie Hobbs
_Angie Hobbs_
Reading time: 19 minutes
Synopsis
Why Plato Matters Now (2025) looks at the ideas of the old Greek thinker, Plato. It shows that we can still learn a lot from him, from how we talk to how we have romantic relationships. This can make our own lives better and improve society as a whole.
What’s in it for me? Learning how to live.
Think about the last argument you saw. Maybe it was at a family dinner, or on the news all the time. Everyone was talking, but no one was listening. It seemed like people wanted to win, not to understand.
Moments like these can make us wonder if people can still live together in peace. But this is not new. More than 2,000 years ago, Plato faced a world that felt just as unstable and divided as ours.
Plato lived through war, disease, extreme politics, and the death of his teacher, Socrates. He asked questions that are still important today. How should we live? What makes a society healthy? And how can people with very different ideas talk to each other without causing problems?
Plato did not give simple answers. Instead, he wrote dialogues. These were like real conversations with imperfect people, strong disagreements, and clear ideas. Reading them can feel less like studying old philosophy. It feels more like listening to a deep, thoughtful talk that does not accept easy answers.
This Blink takes you into that world. You will learn about Plato not just as a great thinker. He was also someone who cared deeply about everyday life. He thought about how we talk, how balanced our inner lives are, and what love and friendship mean.
Plato does not tell us what to think or give easy answers. He challenges us to slow down, think carefully, and look at our own beliefs. Today, with so much noise and strong opinions, this idea feels quite new and different.
Blink 1 – Plato and Socrates
Before we look at Plato’s ideas, let’s learn a little about him.
Plato was born in Athens in the 5th century BCE. He came from a rich family, but he lived during difficult times.
Politics in Athens were tense. There was civil war, disease, and fighting between different groups. Some people wanted a democracy, where everyone votes. Others wanted an oligarchy, where a few rich people ruled. Plato’s family had connections to both sides.
Plato did not go into politics, which was normal for someone from his background. Instead, he chose philosophy. He became a friend and student of the great philosopher Socrates. After Socrates was sentenced to death, Plato left Athens. He spent years traveling, studying, and teaching.
Plato himself almost died early. While in Sicily, he had a difficult relationship with the cruel leader, Dionysius I, and later Dionysius II. They forced Plato to stay in Syracuse against his will.
A friend helped Plato, and he finally returned to Athens. He continued writing and teaching until he died.
Looking at Plato’s life helps us better understand his ideas. First, we can see why he worried so much about cruel leaders. He had dealt with one or two himself. Also, because Plato lived through so much political trouble, it is not surprising that he valued peace in society highly.
His relationship with his teacher was another important influence. Plato was deeply shaped by Socrates’ teachings. In fact, all of Plato’s writings can be seen as defending Socrates. They also criticize the society that sentenced him to death.
However, it can be hard to look at Plato’s work and know exactly what he believed. Is the character of Socrates in the books the same as the real Socrates? When we read the dialogues, can we be sure what Plato himself thought?
The author Angie Hobbs, who studies ancient Greek philosophy, suggests a careful way of looking at it. Hobbs says that the Socrates in Plato’s dialogues is a made-up character. But we can assume that the ideas this character shares are similar to those of the real Socrates. Plato also used the character of Socrates to explore his own interests, like political ideas and how the mind works.
Hobbs believes it is possible to find Plato’s own beliefs in his work. But for Plato, it was important that even his most cherished beliefs were questioned and examined closely.
Plato shared Socrates’ interest in the big question: how should we live? Simply put, Socrates believed that a good life was a successful and moral life.
We will look at these ideas in more detail later. But for now, the main idea is this: Plato wanted to build on Socrates’ work and understand how to live. It is one of those questions that are always important. This is one of the many reasons why Plato still matters now.
Blink 2 – The art of dialogue
A main part of Plato’s work is the dialogue form. It is lively and pulls the reader in. The dialogues ask us to think deeply, so we become like philosophers ourselves. For Plato, this kind of active thinking was key for making progress in philosophy.
In the dialogues, he explores the close links between our character, our lives, and our beliefs. The many different characters, from the philosopher Socrates to the bad politician Alcibiades, also help us to think. Could this character be a good example? Or are they a warning?
Plato is very good at showing how to have a philosophical discussion. As we will see soon, these are lessons we can still learn from today.
For Plato, the first thing needed is to simply show up. You must be ready to have an open, honest talk. It is not about winning the debate. It is about taking part in a reasoned discussion. Plato believed that using our reason was our duty. He thought it was a task given to us by God. And what better way to use our reason than with a smart debate?
Importantly, the goal should be to convince the other person. Not to force them to agree. The goal is to reach a true agreement. Also, no topic should be off-limits. We should be able to talk about everything openly.
Plato also shows us how not to have a dialogue. He does this through characters like Callicles and Thrasymachus, who appear in the Gorgias and the Republic. Callicles is angry and rude. Thrasymachus is even more ready to fight. Because of this, both characters learn very little, if anything, from their talks.
Still, for Plato, it was important to at least try to talk to these kinds of people. And if they held dangerous views, it was better for those views to be shared openly and debated. This was better than keeping them secret.
According to Plato, tricksters were even worse. These are people who use clever word tricks just to win a debate. The problem with these people is that they do not care about being honest. They only care about winning.
So, what can Plato’s dialogues teach us today? Well, for a start, we can learn to spot clever tricks that try to control people. This is a useful skill today, with dishonest politicians, advertisers, social media people, and so on.
His examples of good dialogue can also help us get better at talking with others. Especially with those who have different political views. Modern society has become very divided. So, useful discussions where people work together are more important than ever.
The author Hobbs suggests that these skills should be learned early. Plato’s way of talking can help young people improve their critical thinking. It can also help them discuss, debate, and disagree respectfully.
Like Plato, we should aim to understand the art, and the importance, of useful conversations.
Blink 3 – Psychic harmony and living well
Now, let’s go back to the big question: how to live well? Like Socrates, Plato thought we should aim for a good and successful life.
An important idea was eudaimonia. In Plato’s work, eudaimonia often means using one’s mind and body to their full ability. It is not just about being happy. It is about trying to reach our full potential.
This is a valuable approach, especially when times are hard. No matter what is happening outside, you can still have control over your own actions. You can act in a way that helps you and your community.
Another key idea for Plato was the psychē. He explores this in the Republic through the character of Socrates. Socrates talks about the different parts of the psychē, and how important mental health is. This was a key moment in Western history. It was the first known time someone talked about mental health.
Plato also explores the idea of inner harmony. This is needed for a successful life. Plato’s ideas of psychē and inner harmony are quite complex. But for our purpose, what is important is this: For Plato, to have true mental health or harmony, you need the right cultural conditions. People are always shaped by the politics and society around them. Since humans must live in society, it means we need to think carefully about what kind of society we create.
According to the author Hobbs, Plato’s ideas are still important today. We should aim to create a culture that promotes inner harmony. A culture that helps stop disagreements and illness.
Plato’s ideas about inner harmony can be used in many parts of modern life. Again, Hobbs suggests we remember Plato when thinking about education. The years spent at school should be exciting. They should make us think about what it means to live a successful life.
In Plato, the idea of eudaimonia is linked to the idea of a life’s shape. Its structure or story. So, it could be helpful for young people to explore many different stories. This includes made-up stories like the Harry Potter books. Stories give us characters to think about. They help us consider what makes a successful life, or not.
Another area to look at is city planning. For example, when we think about designing public spaces, we might consider the health and future success of all who live there. This includes plants and animals, as well as humans.
Plato makes it clear that for humans to be successful, we need the right conditions. And today, we have so much proof of how deeply connected the world is. Human success is linked to the health of the Earth itself, and all living things.
So, maybe Plato can help us solve problems at a societal, or even global, level. The way things are going, we need all the help we can get.
Blink 4 – The nature of love and friendship
Plato’s dialogues explore another topic that is always important: the nature of love and friendship. His characters often discuss erōs, or romantic love, and philia, which means friendship and affection.
Plato’s strong, sometimes moving discussions give us something to think about. What roles do these kinds of love have in our private lives? And what about philia in society as a whole? Perhaps we should aim for more peace and unity in society.
Plato gives us more questions than answers. But one thing is clear: love and friendship matter. They are very important parts of a successful life.
One of Plato’s most famous explorations of erōs is in the Symposium. There is a well-known scene where the character Aristophanes tells an old story.
The story says that at the beginning, humans had two faces, four arms and legs, and two sets of genitals. One day, the god Zeus punished these beings. He split them in two. The wounded beings then wandered the world looking for their missing half. Aristophanes says this is why erōs exists. Romantic love, and sex, are an attempt to become whole again.
This story is possibly the first time in Western literature that someone talked about the “other half.” As long as people are still fascinated and confused by love, this story will surely keep being important.
But how exactly should we understand the story? The lovers might seem worryingly selfish. They see their beloved not as a person, but just as a part of them. Their missing half.
It is likely that Plato wanted readers to discuss and examine this idea, rather than just believe it directly. Perhaps the message here is actually the opposite. In a healthy romantic relationship, we need to see our partner as a whole person. Someone with their own needs and desires.
Again, this is the beauty of the dialogue form. Plato’s characters have rich discussions that make you think. They invite us to have our own conversations. To reflect on the role of love and friendship in our own lives.
Reading works like the Symposium and Phaedrus, there are so many questions we could ask ourselves. What kinds of erōs and philia are good? Which are harmful? And how important are questions of sex and gender?
Looking at the bigger picture, we might simply ask, “What is love?” and “What is friendship?” By thinking about these questions, perhaps we can become better friends and lovers. And as a result, everyone will be successful.
Final summary
The main idea of this Blink from Why Plato Matters Now by Angie Hobbs is that we can learn a lot from Plato’s life and work.
Plato was born in Athens in the 5th century BCE. He lived during a time of political trouble. The death of his teacher, Socrates, deeply affected him. Much of his work can be seen as defending his teacher and criticizing the society that sentenced him to death.
Through his dialogues, Plato explores lasting questions about how to live well. He purposely encouraged readers to ask questions and think deeply, instead of just taking easy answers.
Plato shows us how to have useful conversations. He highlights open-minded thinking, convincing others with good reasons, and the importance of debating even dangerous or unpopular ideas. These dialogues teach critical thinking. They also help to show clever talk that tries to control people. These lessons are still important in today’s divided societies.
Plato also developed key ideas about human success, or eudaimonia. He talked about the importance of “inner harmony,” which happens when different parts of the mind are balanced. He believed that how well each person lives depends on society, culture, and politics. This makes education and how we plan our communities very important for human success.
Plato’s thoughts on love and friendship look at how erōs (romantic love) and philia (friendship) shape our lives. These relationships are essential for a successful, peaceful life.
Okay, that’s it for this Blink. We hope you enjoyed it. If you can, please take the time to leave us a rating. We always like to hear what you think. See you in the next Blink.
Source: https://www.blinkist.com/https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/why-plato-matters-now-en