Socrates (c. 470 BCE – c. 399 BCE) was an outstanding Greek philosopher. He is often remembered as the first of the great three of ancient Greek philosophy: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. In fact, we know little of his life or of the arguments made at his trial. His writings were lost, and his ideas were passed on by his philosophical successors, especially Plato. Socrates featured prominently in Plato's books.
Socrates came from a humble family and may have worked as a mason. It is not known whether or not he was paid for his teaching. He served in the Athenian infantry during the war against Sparta.
Socrates stressed the importance of human reason. He said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." He thought the best government would be one led by men who possessed knowledge and virtue.
His ideas were controversial in Athens and ultimately resulted in his...
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trial and death. Athens had lost a war with Sparta, and its place in the world was uncertain. Many felt Socrates contributed to that uncertainty by questioning Athens's established norms and rulers. After his trial, the vote to convict him was 280 to 221. He probably could have avoided death by going into exile, but this alternative did not interest him. Socrates bravely met his death: "The end of life is to be like God, and the soul following God will be like Him."
Today, it is easy to criticize the 280 men who condemned one of the greatest thinkers in human history. But people who feel threatened do not act rationally. That was true in the time of Socrates, and it still is true today.