One of the towering figures of ancient Greek philosophy, Plato was the founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. A student of the great philosopher Socrates, Plato was also the teacher of another influential figure, Aristotle. These three philosophers are jointly credited to have laid the very foundations of Western philosophy and science. Plato was not just highly influential in the fields of Western science, philosophy, and mathematics, but is also said to have been one of the founders of Western religion and spirituality. In addition, he is also credited to have been the founder of Western political philosophy and one of the most influential authors in the history of philosophy.