Socrates (470?-399 BC)
Interested in neither money, nor fame, nor power, Socrates wandered
along the streets of Athens in
the 5th century BC. He wore a single rough woolen garment in all
seasons and went barefoot. Talking to whoever would listen, he
asked questions, criticized answers, and poked holes in faulty
arguments. His style of conversation has been given the name
Socratic dialogue.
Socrates was the wisest philosopher of his time. He was the first
of the three great teachers of ancient Greece the other two being
Plato and Aristotle. Today he is ranked as
one of the world's greatest moral teachers. His self-control and
powers of endurance were unmatched. In appearance he was short and
fat, with a snub nose and wide mouth. Despite his unkempt
appearance, the Greeks of his day enjoyed being with him to talk
with him and were fascinated by what he had to say. The young,
aristocratic military genius Alcibiades said of him, His nature is
so beautiful, golden, divine, and wonderful within that everything
he commands surely ought to be obeyed even like the voice of a
god.
Socrates was born on the outskirts of Athens in about 470 BC. He
studied sculpture, his father's profession, but soon abandoned this
work to seek truth in his own way. His habits were so frugal and
his constitution so hardy that he needed only the bare necessities.
Although Socrates took no part in the politics of Athens, he would
perform civic functions when he was called upon. He was a
courageous soldier. During the Peloponnesian War he served as a foot
soldier in several engagements. At Potidaea he saved the life of
Alcibiades (see Alcibiades).
Socrates' wife, Xanthippe, was notorious in Athens for her sharp
tongue and quick temper. The sage once jokingly said, As I intended
to associate with all kinds of people, I thought nothing they could
do would disturb me, once I had accustomed myself to bear the
disposition of Xanthippe. Socrates shunned the shallow notion of
truth for its own sake. He turned to his conscience for moral truth
and enjoyed creating confusion by asking simple questions. He
sought to uncover the nature of virtue and to find a rule of life.
Favorite objects of his attacks were the Sophists, who charged a
fee for their teaching. Know thyself was the motto he is reputed to
have learned from the oracle at Delphi. In knowing oneself he saw
the possibility of learning what is really good, in contrast to
accepting mere outward appearance.
Socrates did not write any books or papers. The details of his life
and doctrine are preserved in the 'Memorabilia' of the historian
Xenophon and in the dialogues of the philosopher Plato. It was
chiefly through Plato and Plato's brilliant disciple Aristotle that
the influence of Socrates was passed on to succeeding generations
of philosophers.
Socrates, however, was not appreciated by the Athenian mob and its
self-serving leaders. His genius for exposing pompous frauds made
him many enemies. At last, three of his political foes indicted him
on the charge of neglect of the gods and corruption of the young.
They were false charges, but politically convenient. He was
sentenced to die by drinking hemlock. His parting comments to his
judges were simple, as recorded in Plato's 'Apology': 'The hour of departure
has arrived, and we go our ways I to die, and you to live. Which is
better God only knows'. 