Socrates is often celebrated as the father of Western philosophy. He was a thinker who questioned everything and everyone, and his strong beliefs eventually led to his downfall. Despite this, his lasting legacy is the method of questioning to discover the truth, known as the Socratic method. Let’s dive into the life of Socrates and explore his impact on philosophy.
Understanding Socrates is a challenge for historians because he never wrote anything that has survived. Our knowledge of him comes from the writings of his student Plato and the contemporary Xenophon. These texts are mostly dialogues featuring Socrates, making it hard to separate fact from fiction—a dilemma known as the Socratic problem.
Socrates was born around 469 or 470 B.C.E. in a village near Athens. His father, Sophroniscus, was a sculptor, and his mother, Phaenarete, was a midwife. Socrates was expected to follow in his father’s footsteps and became a skilled sculptor, even working on a famous statue at the Acropolis.
As a young man, Socrates was influenced by the philosopher Anaxagoras and may have studied under him. Anaxagoras taught that everything existed in fragmented forms. Socrates spent much of his youth in the workshops of merchants, engaging in philosophical discussions since he was not yet eligible to attend the Agora, Athens’ central meeting place for intellectual debates.
Later, Socrates studied under Archelaus, learning about mathematics and astronomy. He realized that the theoretical ideas of philosophy had little practical application and became more interested in addressing everyday life’s problems. He believed that understanding oneself was more important than understanding the world.
When the Peloponnesian War broke out in 431 B.C.E., Socrates served as a hoplite, a type of soldier. Despite differing accounts of his life, one thing is clear: Socrates was not conventionally attractive, with a snub nose and unkempt hair.
Plato’s writings provide insight into Socrates’ military service, noting his participation in battles like Amphipolis, Delium, and Potidaea. Alcibiades, another chronicler, praised Socrates’ bravery during the Battle of Delium, where he saved Alcibiades’ life.
After his military service, Socrates became a member of the boule, a council managing Athens’ daily affairs. Xenophon recounts that Socrates intervened in a debate about military commanders who abandoned their wounded, blocking a vote for their execution and saving their lives.
After the Peloponnesian War ended in 404 B.C.E., Athens faced turmoil with the rise of the Thirty Tyrants, a violent regime. When democracy was restored, Socrates’ situation worsened. He opposed democracy, believing that the masses were incapable of self-governance and needed wise leaders. He argued that virtue came from knowledge, which the average citizen lacked. This view clashed with Athenian values, leading to suspicion and hostility towards him.
Socrates’ condescending manner often led to violent reactions. A playwright named Aristophanes depicted him as a comic figure in “The Clouds,” portraying him as an eccentric philosopher. Socrates reportedly took no offense, seeing it as harmless.
However, public perception shifted when former students of Socrates, like Alcibiades and Critias, led insurrections against democracy. This association turned many against him. When the Thirty Tyrants ordered Socrates to arrest a respected citizen, Leon, for execution, Socrates refused, citing his integrity. However, he did not warn Leon, which would later haunt him during his trial.
By 403 B.C.E., the Thirty Tyrants were overthrown, and a general amnesty was enacted. Despite this, Socrates was arrested in 399 B.C.E. for continuing to express his anti-democratic views.
Socrates faced charges of impiety and corrupting the youth, brought by a man named Meletus. The trial lasted nine hours in the Agora, with a jury of 500 citizens to prevent bribery. The main accuser was Anytus, a politician with a personal vendetta against Socrates.
During the trial, Socrates defended himself with a defiant tone, arguing that he was a loyal citizen and that his refusal to arrest Leon showed his integrity. He claimed that if teaching virtue made him guilty, he accepted that guilt. Socrates emphasized his commitment to philosophy, stating, “Men of Athens, I honor and love you; but I shall obey God rather than you.”
Despite his defense, the jury found him guilty, with 280 votes for guilt and 220 for acquittal. The accusers called for the death penalty, while Socrates suggested he should be rewarded for his actions. Ultimately, the jury chose death.
After the trial, Socrates was taken to prison. Plato recounts that Socrates was offered a chance to escape by his friend Crito, who had arranged for it. However, Socrates refused, arguing that it would be unjust to break the laws of Athens.
Plato describes Socrates’ final moments, where he was given a cup of poisoned hemlock. Socrates accepted the poison and, before drinking, offered a prayer for a happy afterlife. As he drank, he reassured his friends, urging them to remain calm.
Socrates walked around the cell until he felt heavy, then lay down. His last words were a request to Crito to pay a debt to Asclepius, the god of health, signifying his belief that he was cured of the “disease of life.” Socrates died peacefully, and Plato concluded his account by calling him “the best, wisest, and most upright man” he had ever known.
Engage in a role-playing exercise where you and your classmates take turns being Socrates. Use the Socratic method to question each other’s beliefs on a chosen topic. Focus on asking open-ended questions that encourage deeper thinking and reflection.
Participate in a debate about Socrates’ views on democracy versus the idea of philosopher-kings. Research both sides and prepare arguments to defend your position. This will help you understand Socrates’ perspective on governance and its relevance today.
Write a short dialogue in the style of Plato, featuring Socrates discussing a modern philosophical question. Use this activity to explore how Socratic questioning can be applied to contemporary issues, and present your dialogue to the class.
Read excerpts from Aristophanes’ play “The Clouds” and analyze its portrayal of Socrates. Discuss how satire was used to critique Socrates and what this reveals about public perception of philosophers in ancient Athens.
Reenact the trial of Socrates with your classmates. Assign roles such as Socrates, the accusers, and the jury. Use historical accounts to guide your script and debate the charges of impiety and corrupting the youth. Reflect on the fairness of the trial and its outcome.
**Socrates: The Father of Western Philosophy**
Socrates is often regarded as the father of Western philosophy. He was a man who questioned everything and everyone, expressing his views with a conviction that ultimately sealed his fate. Despite this, his significant legacy is the method of questioning to arrive at the truth, known as the Socratic method. Today, we explore the life of Socrates.
**Beginnings**
Among the great figures of antiquity, Socrates is particularly challenging for historians. He never wrote anything that has survived, so our knowledge of his life comes from secondary sources, primarily the writings of his devoted student Plato and the contemporary Xenophon. These texts mainly consist of dialogues that often feature Socrates himself, making it difficult to discern the facts of his life—a dilemma known as the Socratic problem.
Socrates was born around 469 or 470 B.C.E. in a Greek village near Athens. His father, Sophroniscus, was a sculptor, and his mother, Phaenarete, was a midwife. Sophroniscus hoped his son would follow in his footsteps, and Socrates was apprenticed to him. He became an accomplished sculptor, with tradition suggesting he worked on a famous statue displayed at the Acropolis.
As a young man, Socrates was influenced by the writings of the philosopher Anaxagoras and may have studied under him, although this is uncertain. Anaxagoras taught that all things have always existed in fragmented forms. In Athens, the Agora served as a central meeting place for discussions on politics, art, and philosophy. As a youth, Socrates was not eligible to attend the Agora, so he spent much of his time in the workshops of merchants, engaging them in philosophical inquiries.
After some time as a sculptor, Socrates studied under Archelaus, a philosophical master, where he learned about mathematics and astronomy. According to a 3rd-century biographer, Diogenes Laertius, Archelaus entered into a relationship with Socrates, a common practice in ancient Greece. At the time, philosophy was still a relatively new discipline, and Socrates realized that the theoretical ideas being discussed had little practical application. He became more interested in addressing everyday life’s problems and believed that understanding oneself was more important than understanding the world.
**The Soldier-Philosopher**
With the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War in 431 B.C.E., Socrates was recruited as a hoplite, a type of soldier. He stood out among his peers, and despite discrepancies in accounts of his life, one fact is universally agreed upon: Socrates was not conventionally attractive. He had a snub nose, long unkempt hair, and showed little interest in personal grooming.
Plato’s writings provide insight into Socrates’ military service, noting his participation in battles such as Amphipolis, Delium, and Potidaea. Alcibiades, another chronicler, highlighted Socrates’ bravery during the Battle of Delium, where he saved Alcibiades’ life.
After completing his military service in 406 B.C.E., Socrates became a member of the boule, a council responsible for Athens’ daily affairs. Xenophon recounts that he oversaw a debate regarding the fate of military commanders who had abandoned their wounded in battle. While the public called for their execution, Socrates intervened, blocking the vote and sparing their lives.
**Challenging Society**
Following the Peloponnesian War’s end in 404 B.C.E., Athens experienced turmoil with the rise of the Thirty Tyrants, a regime marked by terror and violence. After eight months, this regime fell, leading to the restoration of democracy, but Socrates’ situation worsened. He opposed democracy, believing that the masses were incapable of self-governance and required wise leaders. He argued that virtue was attained through knowledge, which the average citizen lacked. This perspective clashed with Athenian values, leading to suspicion and hostility towards him.
Socrates’ condescending manner further fueled resentment, and he often faced violent reactions. Diogenes recorded instances of people attacking him physically. A contemporary playwright, Aristophanes, depicted Socrates as a comic figure in his play “The Clouds,” portraying him as an eccentric philosopher. Socrates reportedly took no offense at such portrayals, viewing them as harmless.
However, public perception shifted as former students of Socrates, such as Alcibiades and Critias, led insurrections against democracy. This association turned many against him, viewing him as a dangerous influence. When the Thirty Tyrants came to power, they ordered Socrates to apprehend a respected citizen, Leon, for execution. Socrates refused to comply, citing his integrity, but he did not warn Leon of the impending danger. This inaction would later haunt him during his trial.
By 403 B.C.E., the Thirty Tyrants were overthrown, and a general amnesty was enacted, preventing charges against anyone for actions taken during the tyranny. However, Socrates was arrested in 399 B.C.E. after continuing to express his anti-democratic views.
**Trial**
Socrates faced charges of impiety and corrupting the youth, brought forth by a man named Meletus. The trial lasted nine hours in the Agora, with a jury of 500 citizens. The large jury size aimed to prevent bribery. The main accuser was not Meletus but Anytus, a politician with a personal vendetta against Socrates.
During the trial, Socrates defended himself for three hours, maintaining a defiant tone. He argued that he was a loyal citizen and that his refusal to arrest Leon demonstrated his integrity. He claimed that if teaching virtue made him guilty, then he accepted that guilt. Socrates emphasized his commitment to philosophy, stating, “Men of Athens, I honor and love you; but I shall obey God rather than you.”
Despite his defense, the jury found him guilty, with 280 votes for guilt and 220 for acquittal. The accusers called for the death penalty, while Socrates suggested he should be rewarded for his actions. Ultimately, the jury chose death.
**The Death of Socrates**
After the trial, Socrates was taken to prison. Plato recounts that Socrates was offered a chance to escape by his friend Crito, who had arranged for his escape. However, Socrates refused, arguing that it would be unjust to break the laws of Athens.
Plato chronicles Socrates’ final moments, describing how he was presented with a cup of poisoned hemlock. Socrates accepted the poison and, before drinking, offered a prayer for a happy afterlife. As he drank, he reassured his friends, urging them to remain calm.
Socrates walked around the cell until he felt heavy, then lay down. His last words were a request to Crito to pay a debt to Asclepius, the god of health, signifying his belief that he was cured of the “disease of life.” Socrates died peacefully, and Plato concluded his account by calling him “the best, wisest, and most upright man” he had ever known.
Socrates – An ancient Greek philosopher who is credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy and is known for his method of questioning to stimulate critical thinking and to illuminate ideas. – Socrates’ method of inquiry laid the groundwork for the development of critical thinking in philosophy.
Philosophy – The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline. – Philosophy encourages students to question the nature of reality and the basis of human understanding.
Democracy – A system of government by the whole population, typically through elected representatives, emphasizing the role of citizens in decision-making. – Ancient Athens is often credited with the development of democracy, where citizens had the right to participate in governmental decisions.
Trial – A formal examination of evidence in a court, typically with a judge and jury, to decide guilt in a case of criminal or civil proceedings. – The trial of Socrates is one of the most famous in history, where he was accused of corrupting the youth and impiety.
Virtue – Behavior showing high moral standards, often considered a foundational concept in ethical philosophy. – Aristotle believed that virtue is achieved by maintaining a balance between excess and deficiency, known as the “Golden Mean.”
Knowledge – Facts, information, and skills acquired through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject. – Plato argued that true knowledge is not just opinion but is justified and true belief.
Hemlock – A highly poisonous plant used in ancient Greece for the execution of prisoners, most famously used in the death of Socrates. – Socrates was sentenced to death by drinking a cup of hemlock, a fate he accepted with calmness and dignity.
Integrity – The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. – Socrates is often admired for his integrity, as he chose to die rather than compromise his philosophical beliefs.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, often focusing on the analysis and interpretation of records. – Understanding history is crucial for learning from past mistakes and shaping a better future.
Legacy – Something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor from the past, often referring to cultural or intellectual heritage. – The legacy of ancient philosophers like Socrates and Plato continues to influence modern thought and education.
