Socrates: His Life and Times

The Delian League Thasos Naxos Delos Lesbos Melos

Background A central figure in western philosophy, but what is known about him comes from two of his pupils, Plato and Xenophon, He lived ( )the Golden Age of Athens. Father, a sculptor and stone-mason. His mother was a midwife.

Education The wealthy Athenian Crito took him out of the stone-mason’s workshop and paid for his education He was a pupil of Anaxagoras Attracted to the topics raised by the Sophists. One dialogue of Plato has a young Socrates listening to Zeno of Elea and talking with him and Parmenides.

Philosophical mission Chaerephon, went to the Delphic oracle asking if there was anyone who was wiser than Socrates, oracle responded that there was not. Not feeling wise, Socrates cross-examined the ‘wise’ men of society. (statesmen, poets, artisans, and others.) He did NOT find them wise. the pursuit of wisdom became Socrates’ full-time job

Socratic method Socrates spent most of his time asking question about ethical issues. He had a knack for asking questions exposing ignorance, hypocrisy, and conceit among his fellow Athenians,particularly in regard to moral questions. argued that knowledge was virtue

The Peloponnesian War Disastrous twenty-seven year struggle ( B.C.E.) between the rival Greek city-states of Athens and Sparta. Socrates fought in this war and it defined him intellectually. He was critical of Athenian democracy and Spartan Oligarchy 3 of his former students were leaders associated with the downfall of Athens

The Trial of Socrates An Athenian Democrat, Anytus, who suffered under Spartan control of Athens (when a puppet government of ‘30 tyrants’ led by a former student of Socrates was in charge.) brought charges against Socrates…. “Socrates is guilty of not believing in the gods in which the state believes, but brings in other new divinities; he also wrongs by corrupting the youth.”

Death of Socrates In his defense Socrates gave a spontaneous speech relying on reason, refuting all the charges one by one. There were 501 men on the jury, and he was condemned by 60 votes. The prosecutors proposed the death penalty, and Socrates had the opportunity to offer an alternative but antagonized the jury. With his death from hemlock poison Socrates became the most famous of all philosophers