| − | '''Socrates''' was an ancient [[Greeks|Greek]] philosopher, who lived between approximately 470 and 399 BC. He is best known for his method of argument (''elenchus'', or the Socratic Method), which poses questions that may expose logical errors underlying an opponent's argument, though he usually stated that his purpose was not to argue but to pursue the truth in alliance with his opponent. Socrates had served in the army in his youth, like all Greek men of his time. To modern readers he is most familiar as a character in many books by his disciple [[Plato]] or his contemporary [[Xenophon]]. If Socrates wrote any books himself they are lost. Eventually the courts of [[Athens]] found him guilty on charges of [[impiety]] and corrupting the youth, and sentenced him to drink hemlock, a poison that took his life. Socrates had an opportunity to escape from prison, but declined to do so. <ref>http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/socrates/socratesbio.html</ref> | + | '''Socrates''', the "gadfly of [[Athens]]," was an ancient [[Greeks|Greek]] philosopher, who lived between approximately 470 and 399 BC. He is best known for his method of argument (''elenchus'', or the Socratic Method), which poses questions that may expose logical errors underlying an opponent's argument, though he usually stated that his purpose was not to argue but to pursue the truth in alliance with his opponent. Socrates had served in the army in his youth, like all Greek men of his time. To modern readers he is most familiar as a character in many books by his disciple [[Plato]] or his contemporary [[Xenophon]]. If Socrates wrote any books himself they are lost. Eventually the courts of [[Athens]] found him guilty on charges of impiety and corrupting the youth, and sentenced him to drink hemlock, a poison that took his life. Socrates had an opportunity to escape from prison, but declined to do so. <ref>http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/socrates/socratesbio.html</ref> |
| | + | Socrates was what we call a "gadfly" today, persistently questioning and criticizing others in authority. Plato portrayed Socrates as a fly that would awaken the sleeping horse of Athens by repeatedly biting it, and several modern translations of Plato's [[Apology]] even use the term "gadfly". |