469-399 B.C.
“The only thing I know is that I know nothing.”
A central figure in Athenian city life, Socrates was one of the foremost thinkers of his time and made a profound impact on ancient Western philosophy. Socrates enjoyed spending his days in Athenian marketplaces discussing any topic imaginable with anyone who cared to join him. Always barefoot, poorly dressed and of simple means, Socrates refused to receive money for teaching. Instead, he saw himself as a “horsefly” responsible for stinging life into Athens.
Socrates wrote nothing. What we do know about him comes from the writings of his students, Plato and Xenophon. Socrates was born in 469 B.C., the son of Sophroniscus, a stone mason and sculptor. He had an ordinary Greek education, learned his father’s trade, and practiced it for years before turning to the philosopher’s life. As a young man, Socrates fought valiantly for Athens in the wars against Sparta. In the Symposium, Alcibiades’ describes Socrates as short, stout and unattractive in Athenian terms. He did possess a magnetic personality, however, and drew a large following of young men to his circle. They especially enjoyed watching Socrates challenge their Greek elders in the intellectual sparring matches that earned him many powerful enemies.
Socrates argued with people. He took apart what they thought they knew and revealed their ignorance. Known today as the Socratic Method, this approach to argumentation starts with simple questions that lead the opponent to think he is wiser than the questioner. In the end, these simple questions become more and more challenging and the opponent’s answers are used to prove he is wrong. Socrates simply asked questions to come to great revelations through his opponent’s answers. Socrates was committed to uncovering people’s misunderstandings because in his words, “Ignorance is the only evil.”
Socrates possessed a strong spiritual sense and believed his wise thought was the voice of a higher power. When he was deep in thought, he often fell into a trance that could last for a whole day. He was passionately committed to leading a good life and believed happiness emerged from it. Knowing the difference between what is good and what is bad was the central question. Socrates talked to countless people in his pursuit of knowing truth and the good.
In 399 B.C. Socrates was arrested and charged with worshiping false gods and corrupting young minds. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. Instead of pleading for his life, as his accusers had hoped for, Socrates suggested that the city of Athens should offer him one meal a day and a statue of him in the marketplace. The court ruled against his proud statement and ordered the death sentence be carried out. His friends pleaded with Socrates to flee, but he remained devoted to Athens and its orders, even if they resulted in his death. As his friends watched, Socrates drank the poisonous Hemlock that brought his death.
Socrates developed no school of thought, no philosophy, and even when he was named the wisest man in Athens, he proclaimed that “the only thing I know is that I know nothing.” This poor and honest wise man’s way of life and thinking influenced the later works of Plato, the Cynics, Aristotle and Western philosophy in immeasurable ways.