Plato is known as a psychologist and philosopher, he was a student of Socrates but also a teacher of Aristotle. Plato's main goal was to help people find a sense of complete fulfillment, or what he called “Eudaimonia”. He recorded his thoughts and theories in 36 dialogues that explored the four main ideas Plato had for becoming the most realized self. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay. His first perspective was that we need to think more. Plato believed that people almost never thought hard or long enough about the things they did and the ways they chose to live. He observed that people often simply accepted what others seemed to do or made decisions based on popular opinions. Plato, however, advised that through "Socratic Discussion" and the careful examination of our ideas (sometimes with the help of a trusted peer) we would be able to know ourselves better and therefore we would not be influenced by instincts or impulsive emotions.The second opinion Plato had as its goal the fulfillment of how to love correctly. He wrote a book called The Symposium in which he said "True love is admiration." The book portrays Plato's view that when you fall in love with someone, it is because you recognize that they possess certain characteristics that you would like to have in yourself. Furthermore, Plato suggests that as you grow closer and more intimate with your partner, you will gradually adapt their admirable traits, ultimately helping you move closer to becoming your most fulfilled self. Closely related to this concept, the third theory concerns the importance of beauty. Plato is recognized as the first person who actually asked how we brought about something so beautiful. He believed that, just as we notice attractive qualities in people, we unconsciously notice these same elements in objects. If, for example, I felt like I lacked peace and quiet, I might find a calming work of art more appealing than someone who was mostly calm and quiet. Furthermore, Plato considered beauty so important because, through our gravitation towards things that contain the aspects we lack, we are more likely to eventually adapt those aspects to ourselves. Finally, his fourth point of view was about changing society. Plato stands out as the first utopian thinker, in the sense that he thought a lot about what politics and society would be like in an ideal world. His book entitled The Republic describes several steps that Plato thought Athens should take to help everyone find eudaimonia. He wanted there to be better role models, control over who spoke to the public and about what, an education that not only included traditional subjects but also taught students how to be better human beings and perhaps more at odds with popular opinions - which children are raised by guardians who were better suited to raise them than their own parents. Regarding Plato's methodology, much is unknown because he lived a long time ago. However, all of his theories are assumed to have been inspired by Socrates (and other philosophical influencers of the time) or taken from Plato's observations, meaning that his ideals were not supported by adequate scientific evidence but simply by experiences of life (of others and his own). Keep in mind: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay His concepts were conclusions based on the behavior of people in Greece, but he applied them to beings.