Socrates’ Athens

Who was Socrates? A citizen of Athens born 470 BCE to a stone mason & a midwife. Full participant in life of the polis. Inquired into the nature of “virtue”

Greece’s Golden Age: 5th C BCE.

Athens was the cultural capital of the ancient world, known for achievements in art, science, literature, commerce and politics.

Age of Pericles Pericles promoted democratic reforms arts & culture expanded Athens's power & prestige fl. 438 BCE d. 429 BCE

“Our government is called a democracy because it exists for the sake of the majority, not the few. The law guarantees all citizens equality with respect to their private interests and yet recognizes claims of individual excellence.”

The Sophists A group of traveling teachers for hire. Known for teaching virtue, among other subjects, such as equestrian skills, public speaking, math, science, etc. Protagoras “Man is the measure of all things, of what is that it is and of what is not that it is not.”

The Oracle at DelphiDelphi Founded in 1400 BCE Know thy self

He spent time in the agora seeking a man wiser than he –among the politicians, the poets, the generals, the priests. –He questioned them on the nature of virtue or human excellence. –Plato recreates these conversations in his early Dialogues. –A group of mostly aristocratic young men followed him and imitated him.

Alcibiades Brilliant, talented, beautiful Follower of Socrates Elected General of Athens Betrayed Athens to Sparta

Jean-Léon Gérôme ( ) Socrates Seeking Alcibiades at the House of Aspasia, 1861,

Regnault. Socrates Dragging Alcibiades from the Embrace of Sensual Pleasure (1791, Paris, Musйe du Louvre)

Michele De Napoli "Death of Alcibiades" (1839)

War with Sparta BCE Athenian democracy was utterly defeated Ended the “Golden Age of Athens”

Trial & Death of Socrates Socrates was associated with the sophists & Alcibiades by his enemies. He was charged with impiety and corruption of the youth And sentenced to death in 399 BCE

Socrates’ Legacy Believed human excellence (virtue) was knowledge Demanded we question ourselves and one another. “Follow the argument.”

“The unexamined life is not worth living.”

Plato The Skeptics The Cynics The Hedonists The Stoics Zeno Epicurus Aristotle Antisthenes Diogenes Aristippus

“Which of us goes to the better is unclear to all but the gods.”