Socrates

Socrates (c. 470–399 BCE) is one of the most important figures in Western philosophy, despite the fact that he left no writings of his own. Nearly everything we know about him comes from his students, especially Plato and Xenophon, and from plays by his contemporary, Aristophanes.

🧠 Core Identity
Occupation: Philosopher, teacher, social critic.

Birthplace: Athens, Greece.

Legacy: Known as the “father of Western philosophy.”

💬 The Socratic Method
A method of questioning designed to expose contradictions and stimulate critical thinking.

Involves asking a series of questions to draw out knowledge or highlight ignorance.

Still widely used today in law, education, and philosophy.

📜 Philosophical Beliefs
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”

Believed in an objective morality and that knowledge leads to virtue.

Opposed moral relativism and the Sophists (who charged money for teaching).

Prioritized self-knowledge and virtue over wealth or social status.

⚖️ Trial and Death
In 399 BCE, Socrates was put on trial for:

Corrupting the youth of Athens.

Impiety (not believing in the gods of the city).

Found guilty and sentenced to death by drinking hemlock.

Refused to flee when offered a chance, arguing that escaping would violate his own principles and social contract with Athens.

📚 How We Know About Him
Plato’s dialogues (like Apology, Crito, Phaedo) are the most detailed sources.

Xenophon’s writings give a more conservative, practical image of Socrates.

Aristophanes’ play “The Clouds” satirizes Socrates as a ridiculous sophist, which may have influenced public opinion against him.

🔍 Legacy
Socrates didn’t build a philosophical system, but inspired others to do so:

Plato and, through him, Aristotle, created much of Western thought.

His method and ideals still shape modern discussions of ethics, logic, and education.