1. Socrates: Ancient Greece

2. Historical Sources of his Life
Plato, Xenophon, Aristophanes
Soc. Left no writings
No primary sources
of this time

3. Life
Soldier
Athenian Army
Battles against Sparta
Stonemason

4. Made Socratic Method
-form of questioning forcing one to analyze their beliefs
-Traveled throughout Athens
-Always running into problems with Athens

5. The Trial 404 B.C. Pelop. War Sparta v Athens ends
Sparta wins-terrorizes Athens’ citizens
Athens came back to power and took revenge on those who helped the Spartans
Socrates is accused of helping them take revenge
This could not be proven so they needed different accusations

6. Socrates accused of:
Corrupting the Youth
Denying Greek gods
399 B.C.
Socrates maintains innocence and defends himself against the charges

7. Sentenced to death
Chance to escape prison
Turns chance down and drinks the hemlock to be put to death
Why didn’t he escape?

8. The answer is told in Plato’s writing called “Crito”.
Crito is a wealthy friend who offers Soc. The chance to escape.
This writing is a famous and short dialogue between CRITO and SOCRATES
Socrates argues that he willingly lived in Athens, therefore, he must follow its laws no matter how corrupt or wrong they are.