Plato was the first and most formidable thinker to recognize that education is a fiercely contested concept, and to point out what great social and personal issues are at stake in education. He articulated a compelling argument for a liberal arts education as something peculiarly befitting free and autonomous beings. He understood the centrality of education for human well-being and flourishing. And he was the first to set forth a systematic theory of education. In this text, Robin Barrow concisely and convincingly establishes the continuing relevance of Platos views to debates on such issues as nature vs. nurture or genetic inheritance vs. social background, philosophy vs. sophistry or the pursuit of true understanding vs. the pursuit of reputation, or perhaps simply truth vs.
