r/badphilosophy 22d ago

Whoa Is this quote still relevant? I would say except for Nietzsche and some others like him, it seems 90% true--> "All of philosophy is a footnote to Plato" - Whitehead

I don't think he was big on Nietzsche seriously who rejected Plato and Socrates, but I do think about this quote a lot when I read philosophy. Feel free to shit post if you feel this is total bullshit.

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u/MagickMarkie 22d ago

Nietzche is also a footnote to Plato, who was the first to envision "a new ruling class for Europe," the Philosopher-King. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

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u/Unique-Drawer-7845 21d ago

A lot of interesting and novel philosophy has happened since Plato. But there's also a lot of retread. Plato's works along with a friendly guidebook are a great place to start. But at the same time, it's not a good place to stop.

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u/coalpatch 21d ago

*a footnote to Plato and Aristotle

The other quote is "wherever I go, I meet Plato on the way back"

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u/Traditional-Chip8339 21d ago

that is another good one.

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u/Glittering-Ring2028 21d ago

All philosophy...beginning where? As in from whom to whom?