Socrates

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Socrates (470 - 399 BC) was one of the first Greek philosophers. He spent the early part of his intellectual life in the scientific pursuits of empirical knowledge (or natural philosophy). He sought to understand not just the "What" of the natural world, but the "Why." Why do the stars move instead of sitting still? Why do plants grow instead of remaining as they are, like rocks? But none of the contemporary scientists could answer, or, indeed, were interested in such questions. Disillusioned by such limited thinking, he moved his attention to questions about man's nature, how he should behave to become happy.

In his pursuit of knowledge about man, a pursuit which consisted of a mixture of internal thinking and careful dialogue with friends and teachers of his day, he single-handedly invented an enduring vision of the goal and methods of philosophy. Though he built on the thoughts of his Greek predessesors (Thales, Anaxagoras, Pythagoras, Parmenides, Empedocles, Heraclitus) and shortly surpassed them with the depth of his insight, the relentlessness of his call for clarity and coherence, and the authenticity of his humble, passionate love for wisdom.

Socrates' influence comes to us through his best student, Plato, both directly and indirectly. The words of Socrates echo by way of the "oral tradition" (the in-person teaching) he communicated to Plato, and there from Plato to Aristotle and the other AcademicsAcademic], who, in turn, form a delta of western thought, the span of which cannot be calculated. Socrates' words also echo, more immediately, through the writings of Plato.

He only wrote one book, but argued with many people about their ideas. Socrates helped people to see what was wrong with their ideas but refused to talk about any of his own. He said that he was not wise, but that he had one kind of wisdom: "I know what I don't know." In other words, he was aware that he had no knowledge about life, metaphysics, morality, politics, etc. Other people who think they know, but don't, are worse off.

Most of the arguments that Socrates had with people were recorded by his student Plato. Because Socrates showed people like Plato how to do Philosophy, he is often said to be the greatest philosopher.

However, Socrates was hated by many people (especially the government, for they thought that he was corrupting the youth and inventing new gods). They also thought he did not believe in gods, which was an offense to the average Athenian. He was sentenced to court by the Athenian people. He had a choice to either drink hemlock juice (a kind of poison), or he could be banished from Athens and never come back. However he stated that "I would rather die than leave this beautiful city." And so he died from drinking poison.