Plato stands as one of the defining figures of ancient philosophy. Born in Athens around 427 BCE into an influential family, he lived through political upheaval, the fall of his city’s democracy, and the execution of his teacher Socrates. These experiences shaped a mind determined to understand justice, knowledge and the ideal form of society. More than two millennia later, his ideas still influence much of Western philosophy and political theory.

Jules Verne wrote a Victorian adventure about climbing down a volcano. On the surface it’s picks, ropes, and lanterns. Underneath, it’s a story about curiosity, risk, and how we handle the unknown. That’s why it still works now. We’re not crawling through lava tubes, but we are tunnelling into data, drilling into systems, and trying to make sense of pressures we can’t see.