Changes

|birth_date=c. 470 BC

|birth_date=c. 470 BC

|birth_place=Deme Alopece, Athens

|birth_place=Deme Alopece, Athens

|death_date=c. February-July 399 BC (aged c. 71)

|death_date=c. February–July 399 BC (aged c. 71)

|death_place=Athens

|death_place=Athens

}}

}}

'''Socrates''', (470 BC - February-July 399 BC) 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''', (470 BC - February–July 399 BC) 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".

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".

==Time line==

==Time line==

His elementary school education included literature, music and gymnastics. He then studied Philosophy and Public Speaking. He was a sculptor like his father. His statue, ''The Three Graces'', was at the entrance to the Acropolis for over six hundred years. He had no formal students. A veteran of the Peloponnesian war, he began philosophical conversations and debates with people in restaurants and stores. His teachings included that ignorance is the cause of all vice, and he emphasized being rational and questioning one’s own thoughts and inner voice. He was condemned by a small majority rather than unanimously. His defense was that what he did wasn’t bad enough to receive death, but might be worth a small fine.<ref>based on Funk & Wagnals New Encyclopedia. ''Socrates.'' F & W’s bibliography for their article on Socrates includes: Guthrie, W.K.C. ''A History of Greek Philosophy.'' 1981. Cambridge. (about the course of Greek philosophy), and Montuori, Maria. ''Socrates: Philosophy of a Myth.'' Humanities. 1981. (about Socratic mythology.) and other books.</ref>

His elementary school education included literature, music and gymnastics. He then studied Philosophy and Public Speaking. He was a sculptor like his father. His statue, ''The Three Graces'', was at the entrance to the Acropolis for over six hundred years. He had no formal students. A veteran of the Peloponnesian war, he began philosophical conversations and debates with people in restaurants and stores. His teachings included that ignorance is the cause of all vice, and he emphasized being rational and questioning one's own thoughts and inner voice. He was condemned by a small majority rather than unanimously. His defense was that what he did wasn't bad enough to receive death, but might be worth a small fine.<ref>based on Funk & Wagnals New Encyclopedia. ''Socrates.'' F & W’s bibliography for their article on Socrates includes: Guthrie, W.K.C. ''A History of Greek Philosophy.'' 1981. Cambridge. (about the course of Greek philosophy), and Montuori, Maria. ''Socrates: Philosophy of a Myth.'' Humanities. 1981. (about Socratic mythology.) and other books.</ref>

==The question of the historical Socrates==

==The question of the historical Socrates==

[[File:Socrates statue.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Socrates ]]

[[File:Socrates statue.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Socrates]]

The major problem in studying the thought of Socrates is that we have to rely on the writings and reports of others since Socrates himself wrote nothing. There is also no historical record of anybody named Socrates ever existing; a vast majority of what we know of the man comes from his pupils, especially [[Plato]], who wrote more about Socrates than anybody else.

The major problem in studying the thought of Socrates is that we have to rely on the writings and reports of others since Socrates himself wrote nothing. There is also no historical record of anybody named Socrates ever existing; a vast majority of what we know of the man comes from his pupils, especially [[Plato]], who wrote more about Socrates than anybody else.