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Socrates,
Greek philosopher Born: Athens, 470 B.C. Died: Athens, 399 B.C. | |||||||||
| "if I am the wisest of the Greeks, it is only because I alone know that I know nothing." - Socrates Aristotle Democritus Descartes Plato Pythagoras Socrates |
All that is known of Socrates is known through the words of others, for he left no writings of his own. In personal appearance, Socrates was short and ugly, however, he won everyone over with his good humour and sharp wit. He was also renowned for his bad-tempered wife Xanthippe, with whom he had three children. Socrates was interested only in knowledge, living a life of poverty in utter contentment, and scorning all luxury. Socrates was known to pretend a disarming ignorance in discussions and then by shrewd questioning, force his opponents to admit their own incorrect assumptions and ignorance. Socrates was less interested in science and more interested in human behaviour. He was particularly interested in ethics and the workings of virtue. Socrates was skilled in debate and had a profound influence on his peers. Even Plato adopted his brand of moral philosophy. The debating methods of Socrates, however, also sometimes called "Socratic Irony", made him many political enemies. He was put on trial in 399 B.C. on charges of atheism and treason, as well as corruption of the youth. Socrates was defiant, and openly goaded the five hundred man jury who were set to judge him. Reluctantly, and by a small majority, the jury sentenced him to death. One month later, Socrates calmly drank the poison hemlock in his prison cell, dying with the same courage he exhibited in life. He was seventy years old. | |||||||||
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