Socrates: the Great Greek Philosopher

Emily Hutchins

Mr. Colin Gene McDaniel

Freshman Composition 111-12

September 13, 2012

Socrates: The Great Greek Philosopher

Socrates, known as one of the greatest Greek philosophers, is credited for his impact on Plato and his profound effect on modern Western philosophy. Much of Socrates’ life is unclear because he did not leave any writings about himself. The only information we have about Socrates comes from his students. However, these writings still do not provide an accurate picture of who Socrates was. Plato’s Apology, Crito, Phadeo, and Symposium do contain close details of Socrates’ early life, his life as a philosopher, and his death.

Socrates was born in Athens during the year 469 B.C. He is depicted as an unattractive short, poor man. His father, Sophroniscus, was an Athenian stone mason and sculptor. It is said that Socrates learned his father’s trade and practiced as a stone mason for many years. In the Apology, Socrates is described as being well known throughout Athens. He elated young men by proving their elders wrong. In the Symposium, Socrates is described as a courageous infantryman in the Peloponnesian War. Sometime during the middle of his life, Socrates gave up his profession as a stone mason and became a philosopher. He later went on to marry Xanthippe and had three children with her.

Socrates devoted his life to practicing philosophy in the square of Athens. He used a method known as the Socratic Method to draw forth information from his students by asking them questions and examining their answers. He often would question his student’s confidence in the truth of popular opinions but never offer them a different teaching. His famous saying “The unexamined life is not worth living” derived from his belief that everyone had the responsibility to ask philosophical questions. This belief caused Socrates to raise questions about Athenian religion and Athenian democracy.

Socrates’ quest for the truth clashed with Athenian politics....