It does what it says on the tin.
The Medici's invented Plato, to promote Democracy, which they could control using money/bribery/intimidation/blackmail.
As far as 'inventing Plato', there was a guy by the name of Georgius Gemistus, later named Plethon (Plethon = Plato). It seems he either wrote or translated someone else's work and that became known as 'Plato's work':
"1360 – 1452/1454, later called Plethon, was one of the most renowned philosophers of the late Byzantine era.[4] He was a chief pioneer of the revival of Greek scholarship in Western Europe.[5] As revealed in his last literary work, the Nomoi or Book of Laws, which he only circulated among close friends, he rejected Christianity in favour of a return to the worship of ancient Hellenic Gods as well as ancient wisdom based on Zoroaster and the Magi.[6]
He re-introduced Plato's ideas to Western Europe during the 1438–1439 Council of Florence, a failed attempt to reconcile the East-West schism. Here, it was believed until recently, Plethon met and influenced Cosimo de' Medici to found a new Platonic Academy, which, under Marsilio Ficino, would proceed to translate into Latin all Plato's works, the Enneads of Plotinus, and various other Neoplatonist works. "
As for Cosimo De Medici:
"Cosimo's power over Florence stemmed from his wealth, which he used to control the votes of office holders in the municipal councils, most importantly the Signoria of Florence. As Florence was proud of its "democracy", he pretended to have little political ambition and did not often hold public office. Enea Piccolomini, Bishop of Siena and later Pope Pius II, said of him:
"Political questions are settled in [Cosimo's] house. The man he chooses holds office... He it is who decides peace and war... He is king in all but name"
"The arrival of notable Byzantine figures from the Eastern Roman Empire, including Emperor John VIII Palaiologos himself, started a boom in interest for Greek culture and arts in the city"
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[–] TheSeer [S] ago
And when I used the Socratic method, your answer was the same. LOL. Are there any pieces of paper or parchment 2400 years old or not? Original documents more than 2000 years old, yes or not? Or let me guess, clay tablets are your favorite? It is all made up. Not that it didn't happen, 'ancient' history, but it didn't happen when they tell us it did. In this case, Plato's work, and knowledge of it in Western Europe, is demonstrably no older than about 550-600 years old, and the 'translation' was sponsored by De Medici. It is fact. I don't have to prove shit. It is right there.
[–] TrialsAndTribulation ago
Where is "it"? Prove it.
[–] TheSeer [S] ago
It is right there in Wikipedia's entry for Plethon and Cosimo De Medici...