Facts about Socrates
- 12
The philosophical method attributed to Socrates, involving systematic questioning to expose contradictions in opponents' beliefs, is known as the Socratic method or elenchus.
- 11
Socrates claimed ignorance as his greatest wisdom, famously stating that his only knowledge was knowing that he knew nothing, a principle called Socratic ignorance.
- 10
Socrates' father Sophroniscus was a stonemason and sculptor, while his mother Phaenarete worked as a midwife in ancient Athens.
- 09
Xenophon, a student of Socrates, documented the philosopher's teachings in his Memorabilia, providing accounts that sometimes contradicted Plato's dialogues.
- 08
Plato's student Aristotle never met Socrates, being born 384 BCE, fifteen years after the philosopher's execution.
- 07
Three sons named Lamprocles, Sophroniscus, and Menexenus were born to Socrates and Xanthippe during their marriage in ancient Athens.
- 06
Athenian citizens paid Socrates no money for his teachings, as he believed philosophy should not be commercialized like the sophists' paid instruction services.
- 05
Socrates' wife Xanthippe was approximately 40 years younger than him, having married him when he was in his 40s.
- 04
During the Peloponnesian War, Socrates' friend Alcibiades commanded Athenian forces while Socrates served as a common soldier under his leadership.
- 03
Seventy years old, Socrates fought in three major Athenian military campaigns during the Peloponnesian War as a hoplite soldier.
- 02
Throughout his life, Socrates never wrote down his philosophical ideas, leaving all recorded teachings to his student Plato's dialogues.
- 01
In 399 BCE, the Athenian philosopher Socrates was executed by drinking hemlock poison after being convicted of corrupting youth and impiety.