Plato was an ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician who was a student of Socrates and the teacher of Aristotle. He is known for his philosophical dialogues, such as "The Republic" and "The Symposium," in which he explored topics such as ethics, politics, metaphysics, and epistemology. Plato founded the Academy in Athens, which is considered the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. His ideas and writings have had a profound influence on Western philosophy and continue to be studied and debated to this day.