The painting 'The School of Athens' portrays the new ideas and concepts that were developing in the Renaissance era. It was also the time when ancient ideas from Rome and Greece were rediscovered and "replaced" those of the Medieval times. Many ideas were based on these Roman/Greek concepts. Raphael has expressed this in the architecture in the fore/background and in the clothing that the people are wearing. The Renaissance was also a time when people were highly interested in expanding their thoughts and acquiring new knowledge on subjects such as architecture, art, literature, science, philosophy, astronomy, anatomy etc. This painting has captured that "wave of enquiry" and visualized it in the peoples' actions. Overall, Raphael's 'The School Of Athens' could be a good painting that depicts the life and beliefs of the Renaissance era.

If I were to be in the painting 'The School Of Athens', I would choose to be the Greek philosopher Aristotle, who is seen in the center of the painting discussing something with Plato. Aristotle was Plato's student and taught Alexander the Great later on in his life. He is known as a philosopher, but he studied countless other subjects like physics, music, biology, logic, poetry, politics and many more. Aristotle believed that knowledge and understanding could only be gained through direct observation and experience. However, his mentor, Plato, believed in his idea that all abstract and non-material forms are the highest kind of reality. I believe the way I think is similar to the way Aristotle thinks. I feel that I have gained more knowledge, understanding and experience after I experiment with things myself rather than just assuming that things are just the way they are. I disagree with Plato's idea of the forms. Also, Aristotle, along with Plato and some other philosophers like socrates, was a great thinker and possessed a "wide view" on the world. I think I am also a person who would think deeply on certain concepts or ideas until I get the answer that I want.