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Socrates (429-327BC)
Socrates was a Greek philosopher and the main source
of Western thought. Very little is known of his life as
he didn’t write his ideas down except what was
recorded by his students, including Plato.
Socrates was born around 470 BC, in Athens, Greece.
He was the son of a stone mason and sculptor, and a
midwife. Because he wasn't from a noble family, he
probably received a basic Greek education and learned
his father's craft at a young age. It is believed
Socrates worked as mason for many years before he
devoted his life to philosophy.
When he grew up, Socrates married a younger woman, who
bore him three sons. Under Athenian law, Socrates served
in the army as a hoplite. He fought in the Peloponnesian
War, where he saved the life of a popular Athenian
general. Socrates was known for his courage in battle and
fearlessness, a trait that stayed with him throughout his
life.
When Socrates was in his forties or so, he began to
question the world around him. He asked, "What is
wisdom?" and "What is beauty?" and "What is the right
thing to do?" Soon he began to go around Athens asking
people he met these questions. Socrates would try to
teach them to think better by asking them more questions
which showed them the problems in their ideas.
In 399 BC, some Athenians became angry at Socrates for
what he was teaching the young men. They charged him in
court with impiety (not respecting the gods) and
corrupting the youth (teaching young men bad things). He
had a big trial in front of an Athenian jury. He was
convicted of these charges and sentenced to death, and
he died soon afterwards, when the guards gave him a cup
of hemlock (a poisonous plant) to drink.
Socrates never wrote down any of his ideas while he was
alive. But after he died, his student, Plato, did write down
some of what Socrates had said which is how we know so
much of what he taught.