evidence: First, I want to make Plato more accessible for everyone. The philosopher is a seminal figure in the history of ideas. Without his writings, it is difficult to know where western civilization would be today. In particular, Plato’s conception of reality as rational (and knowable) paved the way for rigorous intellectual inquiry to take root. Additionally, his notion of the Good as objective and distinct from the individual established the foundation for much of moral philosophy. In short, without Plato, we lose much of the philosophical foundation of western civilization.