Plato was born in Athens in 428BC. The ancient Greek philosopher was one of the most important thinkers in the history of Western philosophy. His work covered themes as broad as politics, virtue, love, art and literature. He can reasonably be credited as the father of philosophy.

Benjamin Jowett was a British classical scholar, considered to be one of the greatest teachers of the 19th century. Jowett was educated The University of Oxford, where, unusually, he was elected a fellow while still an undergraduate. In 1855 he was appointed to the Regius Professorship of Greek. During his vacations, he undertook a translation of Plato's Dialogues, which was published to great acclaim in 1871.