Plato

Thought is the essence and reality of man, and Plato is the most brilliant of thinkers, the first of the philosophers, and the most famous of the sages. He was the first to establish the great philosophical schools. The Academy was one of four schools that had the greatest impact on ancient civilization. These four schools were the Academy, the Peripatetic, the Stoic, and the Epicurean, and his school remained in existence throughout the world. Athens was established for nine centuries until Emperor Justinian closed its doors and expelled its philosophers. Then Platonism continued to influence thought until the present time. It has been said that philosophy grew at his hands and was completed during his lifetime, and all philosophical books after that were nothing but explanations of his works, and footnotes at the bottom of their pages. It is worthy of a person of this stature to be talked about by the geniuses of thought in the West and the East alike, because he excelled in every art. He knocked on every door. He researched every science. He established the foundations of philosophy. And he built lists of knowledge. He was the first to write about the virtuous city. He was the first to try to reform society by applying philosophy to politics. He was the first to analyze social systems and define their nature.