One hot Athens night in 348 BC, a man of about 80 years lay in a fever. A slave girl tried to entertain him by playing her flute. The man was not impressed. He told the girl to work on her rhythm. Soon after, he died.

This man was Plato, the great Greek philosopher. He lived twenty-four centuries ago. But the story of his last night is a new discovery. 

It appeared in a scroll¹ discovered in the Villa of the Papyri in the ruined Roman city of HerculaneumAn ancient city that was buried under volcanic ash after the eruption of Vesuvius in AD79. It is close to Pompeii. .² The scroll was unreadable until recently. It had been charred by the ash of Mount VesuviusThe mountain is 1,281m tall. It last erupted in 1944. in 79 AD. Now, a team of papyrologistsAn expert in the study of papyruses and writing on papyrus. have used state-of-the-art techniques to make the text readable for the first time.

Plato was one of the most influential thinkers of all time.³ He was born into an aristocratic family, yet found himself sold into slavery.⁴ Later he founded the Academy, a school of philosophy that gives us the modern English word.

He introduced numerous important ideas. But perhaps his biggest contribution is popularising the dialectic: a friendly discussion in which two or more people with different views seek to arrive at the truth.⁵

Plato thought dialectic was superior to debate. In debates there is a winner and a loser. Debaters want to score points rather than come to agreement. They use what Plato called sophistry: clever but untrue arguments.

Rather than trying to find the truth, participants look to beat their opponents. As philosophy writer Jonny Thomson writes: "You can learn the tricks of the trade to make your opponent look silly or their arguments seem weak."

Debates can be bloodsport. They stir up animosityHatred. . Take a look at the debates of the UK House of CommonsThe democratically elected house of the UK Parliament. It consists of 650 Members of Parliament. , for instance, where MPsMembers of Parliament. MPs are elected to represent people in 650 different geographical areas.  often devote their time to one-upping their opponents.

Yet others think that debate teaches valuable skills. Journalist Alex Clark writes that it involves mastering "the willingness to hear others' arguments, and to respond to them".

Dialectic assumes that there is a right answer to every issue. But sometimes opposing views both have merit. Debate allows observers to choose between positions that would be difficult to bring together.

Was he right about debate?

Yes: Debates are a form of entertainment. Participants sling mud, distract and use lies to their advantage. These appeal to our worst traits - and seldom leave us with a better grip of a topic.

No: Plato lived in a very different time. In today's polarised world, where people often read and watch news that reflects their own biases, debate can help us reach a more nuanced view.

Or... You cannot tar all debate with the same brush. Political debate can turn toxic. But they can also help us make decisions at important moments. Debates are not the trouble: bad debaters are.

Herculaneum - An ancient city that was buried under volcanic ash after the eruption of Vesuvius in AD79. It is close to Pompeii.

Mount Vesuvius - The mountain is 1,281m tall. It last erupted in 1944.

Papyrologists - An expert in the study of papyruses and writing on papyrus.

Animosity - Hatred.

House of Commons - The democratically elected house of the UK Parliament. It consists of 650 Members of Parliament. 

MPs - Members of Parliament. MPs are elected to represent people in 650 different geographical areas.