Plato was an influential Greek philosopher born around 428/427 BC in Athens. He was a disciple of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle. He founded the Academy of Athens, considered the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. His works, mostly dialogues, explore themes such as justice, beauty, equality, politics, metaphysics, cosmology, and epistemology. He is known for his Theory of Forms and his vision of the ideal Republic. His thought has had a profound and lasting impact on Western philosophy.