Plato was one of Socrates devoted followers and this is reflect in his "Apology". In this particular dialogue, Socrates is presented as mentioning Plato by name as one of his followers. Later Plato is mentioned along with others as offering to pay a fine on behalf of Socrates in order to retrieve him from the penalty of death.
Further, in the Phaedo, the title character also specifically cites Plato as being ill.
However, it should also be said that the relationship between Socrates and Plato is not without problems. Scholarship continues to debate greatly the precise relationship between Plato and his teacher, Socrates.
A primary question concerning this relationship focuses upon the question, "To what extent is Socrates a fictional character utilized by Plato in order to convey Platonic beliefs rather than actual Socratic teachings?" A number of proposals are offered in response to this concern.
Some have responded that Plato's portrait of Socrates is an effort to keep the Socratic spirit alive and ultimately he accomplished the goal of producing a better view on the matters under consideration in the dialogues.
On the other hand, when there is a contradiction between Socrates opinion and that of Plato, we find a new view or a new vision which reflects growth and development of thought and therefore the important lesson to be learned concerns the centrality of intellectual search and inquiry.
In short, it seems that conclusions are not as important in Plato as are the process through which Socrates leads his student to assess he previously held to conclusions and to possibly develop new conclusions based upon this assessment.
