Socrates

Socrates was a famous ancient Greek philosopher but he didn’t seem to write much because there are no records. It also seems that any discoveries he made were not written down. What we can gather from what others have written about him is that he felt knowledge was a living thing.

Many ancient Greeks considered Socrates to be a very wise man but he felt because there was so much to know the reality was that actually he did not know very much.

He questioned everything but he was different to other philosophers that have gone before him because he questioned and studied how one should live.

He did not want to answer questions on the universe like all the other philosophers have done previously he wanted to question things like “what is friendship” or “what is courage”.

He wanted people to be honest with each other, and search for the truth with one another.

In doing this it led Socrates to have his own unique style of reasoning. Even nowadays people still use the Socrates method in his honor. He was very good at questioning others, listening to what they have to say and then probing them for contradictions.

By using this method of trial and error Socrates would help them eventually reach an answer.

He had a very inquiring mind, which unfortunately resulted in his death. Because he questioned everything this unfortunately angered many of the leaders in ancient Greece.

He questioned the existence of the gods and this angered the Greeks because it was something that had never been done before. He was accused of corrupting the young people of Athens and was sentenced to death.

Many of his close friends wanted to help him escape from prison but that was not how Socrates felt, he said it was important to comply with the law and he wanted a die for his beliefs.

Whilst imprisoned he drank poison and died.

More Facts:

Born – 470 BC

Father – Stonemason

Mother – Mid-wife (helped to deliver babies)

Job – Worked in the sculpture studio with his father

Studied – Drama, science, astronomy, math, and geometry

Teaching – Loved asking questions, debating issues, and seeking answers