The Academy (Plato)

The Academy, founded by Plato around 387 BCE in Athens, was one of the earliest known institutions for higher learning. It served as a place for philosophical discussion, scientific inquiry, and education, emphasizing critical thinking and inquiry into moral, political, and metaphysical questions. The Academy promoted dialogue and debate, influencing Western thought for centuries. It was not a school with fixed curricula but a community of scholars dedicated to exploring fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, and virtue, shaping the development of Western philosophy and education.