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Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

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412 THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH ANDaltogether. It was about the fortieth year <strong>of</strong> hislife, and twelve years after the death <strong>of</strong> his masterSocrates, that Plato, having already travelledwidely, settled at Athens.64 Here he purchased afixed residence at the Academia, which became fromthat time a philosophical school for study, conversation,oral lectures, and friendly meetings. Herehe drew around him an inner circle <strong>of</strong> scholars towrhom he addressed his unwritten doctrines,65 especiallyhis doctrine <strong>of</strong> Ideas, the key to his wholesystem, according as they were able, after preparation,to receive them : and here besides he gavelectures which might be attended not only by thatinner circle <strong>of</strong> choice disciples but by studiouspersons in general. This residence <strong>of</strong> Plato servedfor three hundred years, from 387 before Christuntil the siege <strong>of</strong> Athens by Sylla in 87, as thecentre <strong>of</strong> Plato's philosophy viewed as a teachingpower. Now in this Plato had before him thegreat example <strong>of</strong> Pythagoras, in the first age <strong>of</strong>Greek philosophy. Concerning the doctrines <strong>of</strong>that philosopher we know little with certainty,66but all are agreed as to his manner <strong>of</strong> teachingthem. His attempt L was to establish a community "/which should carry in its bosom, propagate, andperpetuate a doctrine in morals, politics, religion,and philosophy. His whole procedure was by oral64 See Grote's Plato, i. pp. 133, 4.65 Ueberweg, i. p. 116.66 So Zeller sets forth at length, i. p. 206 ; and Ueberweg, i. p. 47

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