Socrates
Socrates is the ancient Greek thinker who laid the early foundations for Western philosophical thought. His "Socratic Method" involved asking probing questions in a give-and-take which would eventually lead to the truth. Socrates was born in Athens and fought as a foot soldier in the Peloponnesian War with Sparta, but in later years became a devotee of philosophy and argument. He spent years in the public places of Athens, engaging his fellow citizens in philosophical discussions and urging them to greater self-analysis. Socrates's iconoclastic attitude didn't sit well with everyone, and at age 70 he was charged with heresy and corruption of local youth. Convicted, he carried out the death sentence by drinking hemlock, becoming one of history's earliest martyrs of conscience. Socrates's most famous pupil was Plato, who in turn instructed the philosopher Aristotle.
-
The encyclopedia's thorough introduction to the philosopher
-
Multimedia study aid from Clarke College; see "Phaedo" for the classic death scene account
-
Sales pitch for a book by the same name, but with swell links to Socrates online
-
Excellent analysis from the UMKC Law School
Copyright © 1998-2018 by Who2?, LLC. All rights reserved.