All About Socrates

Socrates was a Greek philosopher and the man source of western thought. he was born circa 470 BC, in Athens Greece. His students Plato and Xenophon wrote of him. Socrates laid the groundwork for Western Systems of logic and philosophy. When the politics of Greece changed, he was sentenced to death for corrupting the youth and impiety. Socrates was the son of Sophroniscus, an Athenian stone mason and sculptor, and Phaenarete, a midwife. Its believed Socrates worked as a mason first then went to Philosophy later on. Socrates married Xanthippe, a younger woman. They had 3 sons together. By Athenian law, Socrates had to serve in the military. He was known for his courage in battle. he saved a famous Athenian general in battle. His name was Alcibiades. He was short and stocky with a snub nose and bulging eyes. He always emphasized the importance of the mind over the relative unimportance of the human body. He believed that philosophy should achieve practical results for the greater well-being of society. He attempted to establish an ethical system based on human reason rather than theological doctrine. After all of this the people turned on Socrates and convicted him on a vote of 280 to 281. He chose to die. They made him drink poison hemlock. He stated he wasn't afraid of death and he wanted to be a loyal citizen.