EARLY LIFE
Socrates was born in around 470BC and was bought up in comparative luxury in the Athens suburb of Alopeke.
His father, Sophroniscus was the last of a long line of stone cutters.
Socrates' mother was a midwife named Phaenarete.
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| A bust of Socrates in the Louvre. By Sting |
CAREER
Socrates trained as a stonecutter and took over the family stone cutter business. Socrates must have made no little progress, if the antiquity tradition is correct, that the statues of the Three Graces, which stood near the Acropolis until the 2nd century AD, are his work.
For a time, Socrates fulfilled the role of hoplite, participating in the Peloponnesian war—a conflict which stretched intermittently over a period spanning 432 to 404 B.C.
Strong and courageous in battle, at Potidea in 432 Socrates saved the life of a soldier named Alcibades, who later became a prominent Athenian statesman, orator, and general. Socrates refused any sort of official recognition and instead encouraged the decoration of Alcibiades.
When the Delphic Oracle called the then 40 year old Athenian soldier Socrates "The wisest man of Greece," Socrates replied "Tis because I alone of all Greeks know that I know nothing."
After the Delphic oracle proclaimed Socrates to be the wisest man alive, he decided to devote himself full time to pondering behavior, politics and religion.
Socrates' dialectic method of getting at the truth by repeated questioning gained him many followers amongst the youth but upset the established political elite whose ignorance showed up by contradicting themselves after repeated questioning.
Socrates encouraged his pupils to question the world around them and to live their lives according to their conscience even if this bought them into conflict with authorities.
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| Statue of Socrates in front of the Academy of Athens (modern) |
He wondered around Athens stopping here and there to hold discussions on all sorts of subjects with the public. Socrates said: "I am citizen not of Athens of Greece, but of the world."
Plato became a pupil of Socrates in his youth, and — at least according to his personal account — he attended his master's trial, though not his execution.
In Plato's accounts, Socrates explicitly denies accepting money for teaching and does not seem to have any source of income, spending all his time engaged in conversation. However, in Xenophon's Symposium, Socrates explicitly states that he taught for a living, paid by his students, and that he thought this was the most important art or occupation.
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| The Debate Of Socrates And Aspasia |
Plato has Socrates tell us that he once spent all of his time on scientific research, but gave up on it when he came to see that it was philosophy that was truly important for study.
BELIEFS
Socrates left no writings of his own. He was very worried that the increasing use of books in education would have the effect of ruining students' ability to memorize things. His teachings were preserved by Plato in his Dialogues.
Socrates taught that the use of science for practical purposes was degrading and should only be used to exercise the mind.
In the sphere of morality, Socrates put forward the view that a good person never knowingly does wrong.
According to Socrates, there is only one good — knowledge, and one evil — ignorance.
Socrates taught it's the soul that separates man from beasts.
Socrates' rebellious beliefs gave the impression that he didn't believe in the traditional Greek gods though he did maintain an affection for Apollo.
Socrates was short, with a little snubby nose, blubbery lips, a squint and pot belly.
He was renowned for his ugliness and was described as a clumsy and slovenly figure.
Socrates would have generally worn the chiton, a draped garment that was sewn up one side and fastened at the shoulder by a clasp or buckle.
Iron willed with flexible courage, Socrates was known as the "Gad Fly of Athens."
During his time serving Athens as a hoplite, Socrates also showed his extraordinary hardiness, walking without shoes and a coat in winter.
Aristophanes compared Socrates' walk to the strut of a waterfowl.
Socrates had a habit of standing still and rolling his eyes.
Sometime after the Battle of Delium, Socrates married a young lady of independent means called Xanthippe.
Xanthippe bore her husband three children, Lamprocles, Sophroniscus and in his 69th year, Menexenus.
By the cultural standards of the time, Xanthippe was considered a shrew. Socrates himself attested that he, having learned to live with Xanthippe, would be able to cope with any other human being, just as a horse trainer accustomed to wilder horses might be more competent than one not.
Socrates said: "By all means, get married. If you get a good wife, you'll be happy, if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher."
Plato used the word "Platonic" in his Symposium to describe the pure love shown by Socrates towards young men.
Socrates lived a very frugal lifestyle and ate as little as possible with no seasonings at all. "Other men live to eat, whilst I eat to live" he quipped.
He advocated a diet which didn't involve animal cruelty.
Socrates had a large capacity for alcoholic beverages, and at drink and conversation get-togethers called symposia he astounded all who knew him with his capacity for remaining sober, even after everyone else in the party has become thoroughly inebriated.
He preferred city life to the country. Socrates said: "I am a lover of knowledge and the men who dwell in the city are my teachers, not the trees or the countryside."
Socrates was keen on exercising, including jogging, which he saw as the best stimulant for the stomach.
The large bodied and strong Greek philosopher once walked 117 miles (188 kms) from Athens to Olympia to see the Olympics.
Socrates led a frugal life – when he was spotted in a market looking at some impressive wares he was asked why he came to the market as he never bought anything. Socrates replied "I am always amazed to see just how many things there are that I don't need."
By the end of his life, Socrates couldn't even afford shoes and was forced to go about barefoot. He wore a single rough woollen garment in all seasons.
He had good health. It is claimed that though Socrates never left Athens during the many visitations of the plague that have affected the city in his lifetime he was never the worse for any of them.
Socrates lived during the time of the transition from the height of the Athenian Empire to its decline after its defeat by Sparta and its allies in the Peloponnesian War. He was the first person to question everything and everyone, and apparently it offended the leaders of this time.
At a time when Athens was seeking to recover from humiliating defeat, the Athenian public court was induced by several leading public figures to try the 70-year-old Socrates on the trumped up charges that he had not recognized the gods and corrupted the youth of Athens by introducing new gods and for questioning acknowledged astronomy.
The Greek dramatist Aristophanes satirized Socrates' teaching in his play The Clouds. He portrayed him as an idle speculator and a perverter of right and wrong. It is thought this turned people against the Greek philosopher.
Socrates spoke on his own behalf but instead of refuting the charges he defended his position as a seeker of truth. He said at his trial his most dangerous enemies were not those in court – meaning people like Aristophanes who'd influenced public thinking .
He might have been let off with a fine but Socrates cheekily suggested he should be awarded a daily meal for life at the public table in the Prytaneum, (a privilege for Olympic winners) as a reward for helping Athenians find virtue and wisdom.
By a margin of 60 votes the 501 jurors and three accusers convicted Socrates and he was sentenced to death.
Socrates' friends, including an old man Crito, provided for his escape but the Greek philosopher preferred martyrdom.
Socrates was found guilty as charged on February 15, 399 BC, and sentenced to drink hemlock. He spent his last days in prison amongst fellow philosophers.
Socrates spent his last moments consoling friends then drank some hemlock potion. He laid down on the wooden plank which was his bed and drew his gown over his head. He suddenly wrenched the covering to say "Crifo, I owe a cock to Aesculapius". (Asclepius was the god of medicine and healing, to whom such a sacrifice might be made upon the curing of a disease.)
Xenophon, Socrates friend and pupil, wrote a biography, "Memorabilia" of him in around 371 BC. It was one of the first biographies ever written. He also penned an Apology of Socrates to the Jury, which recounts the philosopher's trial in 399 BC.
Source Food For Thought by Ed Pearce
According to Socrates, there is only one good — knowledge, and one evil — ignorance.
Socrates taught it's the soul that separates man from beasts.
Socrates' rebellious beliefs gave the impression that he didn't believe in the traditional Greek gods though he did maintain an affection for Apollo.
APPEARANCE AND CHARACTER
Socrates was short, with a little snubby nose, blubbery lips, a squint and pot belly.
He was renowned for his ugliness and was described as a clumsy and slovenly figure.
 |
| Bust of Socrates in the Vatican Museum |
Socrates would have generally worn the chiton, a draped garment that was sewn up one side and fastened at the shoulder by a clasp or buckle.
Iron willed with flexible courage, Socrates was known as the "Gad Fly of Athens."
During his time serving Athens as a hoplite, Socrates also showed his extraordinary hardiness, walking without shoes and a coat in winter.
Aristophanes compared Socrates' walk to the strut of a waterfowl.
Socrates had a habit of standing still and rolling his eyes.
RELATIONSHIPS
Sometime after the Battle of Delium, Socrates married a young lady of independent means called Xanthippe.
Xanthippe bore her husband three children, Lamprocles, Sophroniscus and in his 69th year, Menexenus.
By the cultural standards of the time, Xanthippe was considered a shrew. Socrates himself attested that he, having learned to live with Xanthippe, would be able to cope with any other human being, just as a horse trainer accustomed to wilder horses might be more competent than one not.
 |
| Luca Penni Socrates and Xanthippe. |
Socrates said: "By all means, get married. If you get a good wife, you'll be happy, if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher."
Plato used the word "Platonic" in his Symposium to describe the pure love shown by Socrates towards young men.
PERSONAL LIFE
Socrates lived a very frugal lifestyle and ate as little as possible with no seasonings at all. "Other men live to eat, whilst I eat to live" he quipped.
He advocated a diet which didn't involve animal cruelty.
Socrates had a large capacity for alcoholic beverages, and at drink and conversation get-togethers called symposia he astounded all who knew him with his capacity for remaining sober, even after everyone else in the party has become thoroughly inebriated.
He preferred city life to the country. Socrates said: "I am a lover of knowledge and the men who dwell in the city are my teachers, not the trees or the countryside."
Socrates was keen on exercising, including jogging, which he saw as the best stimulant for the stomach.
The large bodied and strong Greek philosopher once walked 117 miles (188 kms) from Athens to Olympia to see the Olympics.
Socrates led a frugal life – when he was spotted in a market looking at some impressive wares he was asked why he came to the market as he never bought anything. Socrates replied "I am always amazed to see just how many things there are that I don't need."
By the end of his life, Socrates couldn't even afford shoes and was forced to go about barefoot. He wore a single rough woollen garment in all seasons.
He had good health. It is claimed that though Socrates never left Athens during the many visitations of the plague that have affected the city in his lifetime he was never the worse for any of them.
LAST YEARS AND DEATH
Socrates lived during the time of the transition from the height of the Athenian Empire to its decline after its defeat by Sparta and its allies in the Peloponnesian War. He was the first person to question everything and everyone, and apparently it offended the leaders of this time.
At a time when Athens was seeking to recover from humiliating defeat, the Athenian public court was induced by several leading public figures to try the 70-year-old Socrates on the trumped up charges that he had not recognized the gods and corrupted the youth of Athens by introducing new gods and for questioning acknowledged astronomy.
The Greek dramatist Aristophanes satirized Socrates' teaching in his play The Clouds. He portrayed him as an idle speculator and a perverter of right and wrong. It is thought this turned people against the Greek philosopher.
Socrates spoke on his own behalf but instead of refuting the charges he defended his position as a seeker of truth. He said at his trial his most dangerous enemies were not those in court – meaning people like Aristophanes who'd influenced public thinking .
He might have been let off with a fine but Socrates cheekily suggested he should be awarded a daily meal for life at the public table in the Prytaneum, (a privilege for Olympic winners) as a reward for helping Athenians find virtue and wisdom.
By a margin of 60 votes the 501 jurors and three accusers convicted Socrates and he was sentenced to death.
Socrates' friends, including an old man Crito, provided for his escape but the Greek philosopher preferred martyrdom.
Socrates was found guilty as charged on February 15, 399 BC, and sentenced to drink hemlock. He spent his last days in prison amongst fellow philosophers.
Socrates spent his last moments consoling friends then drank some hemlock potion. He laid down on the wooden plank which was his bed and drew his gown over his head. He suddenly wrenched the covering to say "Crifo, I owe a cock to Aesculapius". (Asclepius was the god of medicine and healing, to whom such a sacrifice might be made upon the curing of a disease.)
 |
| The Death of Socrates, by Jacques-Louis David (1787) |
Xenophon, Socrates friend and pupil, wrote a biography, "Memorabilia" of him in around 371 BC. It was one of the first biographies ever written. He also penned an Apology of Socrates to the Jury, which recounts the philosopher's trial in 399 BC.
Source Food For Thought by Ed Pearce
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