more on this theme | more from this thinker | more from this text
Full Idea
The safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato.
Gist of Idea
European philosophy consists of a series of footnotes to Plato
Source
Alfred North Whitehead (Process and Reality [1929], p.39)
A Reaction
Outsiders think this is a ridiculous remark, but readers of Plato can only be struck by what a wonderful tribute Whitehead has come up with. I would say that at least 80% of this database deals with problems which were discussed at length by Plato.