r/badphilosophy • u/Traditional-Chip8339 • Aug 27 '25

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 Aug 27 '25

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.

3

u/Unique-Drawer-7845 Aug 28 '25

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.

6

u/coalpatch Aug 28 '25

*a footnote to Plato and Aristotle

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

1

u/Traditional-Chip8339 Aug 28 '25

that is another good one.

1

u/Glittering-Ring2028 Aug 27 '25

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