Socrates, a philosopher widely considered as the founding figure of Western philosophy, lived in ancient Greece. Despite being an enigma, his life and teachings have had a profound impact on Western thought and culture.
Born in Athens around 470 BCE, Socrates’ life is chronicled through a few sources, including dialogues by Plato and Xenophon and plays by Aristophanes. Although his life is widely considered paradigmatic for how anyone ought to live, much of the information about him is vigorously disputed.
In this article, we will explore the life of Socrates and delve into the question of how long ago he lived.
How Long Ago Did Socrates Live
Socrates lived in ancient Greece, specifically in Athens, around 470 BCE. This means that he lived over 2,400 years ago.
Despite the passage of time, Socrates’ teachings and philosophy continue to influence Western thought and culture. He is widely recognized as a controversial figure in his native Athens, and his impact on philosophy was all the greater because of the way in which his life ended.
At age 70, Socrates was brought to trial on a charge of impiety and sentenced to death by poisoning by a jury of his fellow citizens. His trial and death at the hands of the Athenian democracy is considered the founding myth of the academic discipline of philosophy.
Socrates’ Early Life And Education
Socrates was born to the sculptor Sophronicus and the midwife Phaenarete around 470 BCE in Athens, Greece. Despite not coming from a noble family, he received a basic Greek education and studied music, gymnastics, and grammar in his youth – the common subjects of study for young Greeks at the time.
Socrates followed his father’s profession as a sculptor and was said to be an exceptional artist. His statue of the Graces, located on the road to the Acropolis, was admired into the 2nd century CE.
He served with distinction in the army and even saved the life of General Alcibiades at the Battle of Potidaea. Later on, he married Xanthippe, an upper-class woman, and had three sons with her.
It wasn’t until later in life that Socrates was told by the Oracle at Delphi that he was the wisest of men. This challenge to the oracle’s claim set him on a course that would establish him as a philosopher and founder of Western philosophy.
Contemporaries differ in their account of how Socrates supported himself as a philosopher. Both Xenophon and Aristophanes state Socrates received payment for teaching, while Plato writes Socrates explicitly denied accepting payment, citing his poverty as proof.
Socrates’ early life and education may have been fairly normal for his time, but it was his later philosophical pursuits and ultimately his trial and death that would cement his legacy as one of the most influential philosophers in history.
Socrates’ Philosophy And Teachings
Socrates was a moral philosopher who was primarily concerned with the quality of his soul and that of others. His philosophy examined how we should live and led him to discussions on various virtues, such as wisdom, justice, courage, piety, and more. He believed that people should care less about their bodies and possessions and more about their souls. Socrates taught that “wealth does not bring goodness, but goodness brings wealth.”
Socrates saw his mission as correcting false beliefs and highlighting incorrect thinking. He dedicated his whole life to understanding the virtues so that he could be more virtuous and educate others on how to be virtuous too. He believed that being virtuous led to true happiness. Socrates’ philosophy was uncompromising in his beliefs about the right way to live, which is part of the reason why he ended up being condemned to death.
Socrates was a man of principle who lived according to what he believed. He was not interested in material possessions or physical beauty. He was well known to be poor and ugly and took no money for his teaching as the Sophists did. Socrates believed he was serving the city of Athens and its citizens by highlighting their incorrect thinking.
Socrates’ teachings continue to influence Western thought and culture even today, over 2,400 years after his death. His emphasis on living a virtuous life has inspired many philosophers and thinkers throughout history.
Socrates’ Trial And Death
Socrates’ trial and death have become an enduring symbol of the struggle between individual conscience and the power of the state. Despite being a widely respected figure among his students and admirers, Socrates had powerful enemies who accused him of two weighty crimes: atheism and the corruption of the youth.
In Plato’s “Apology,” Socrates speaks before the jurors of Athens and defends himself against these charges. He famously declared that “the unexamined life is not worth living” and rejected an offer of escape as inconsistent with his commitment never to do wrong. Socrates’ final decision to accept his death sentence rather than betray his principles has made him a hero to generations of thinkers and activists.
Socrates’ method of seeking truth through questioning and dialogue has become known as the Socratic method. He would draw out seemingly simple discussions in search of true forms, asking questions like “what is piety?” or “what is wisdom?” His approach to philosophy emphasized self-knowledge and humility, as he believed that true wisdom came from acknowledging one’s own ignorance.
The impact of Socrates’ life and death was all the greater because he never wrote a word himself. Our knowledge of his philosophy depends entirely on the records of his students and contemporaries, particularly Plato and Xenophon. Despite this, his ideas have continued to influence Western philosophy and culture for over two millennia.
Historical Context Of Socrates’ Life
Socrates lived during a time of great intellectual and cultural flourishing in ancient Greece. This period, known as the Classical Era, was marked by the rise of democracy and the emergence of great philosophers, playwrights, and artists.
Socrates was born in Athens, which was a leading city-state in Greece at the time. Athens was known for its democratic government, which allowed citizens to participate in decision-making and had a strong emphasis on education and intellectual pursuits.
During Socrates’ lifetime, Athens was involved in a number of wars and conflicts with other city-states, including the Peloponnesian War. Despite these challenges, Athens continued to thrive culturally and intellectually.
Socrates himself was part of a group of thinkers known as the Sophists, who were known for their skills in rhetoric and debate. However, Socrates rejected many of the teachings of the Sophists and instead emphasized the importance of examining one’s own beliefs and values.
Socrates’ philosophy was deeply influenced by his belief in the importance of living an examined life. He believed that the pursuit of wisdom and truth was essential to living a fulfilling life, and that this pursuit required constant questioning and self-reflection.
Estimating Socrates’ Birth And Death Dates
Socrates’ birth and death dates are estimated to be around 469 BCE and 399 BCE, respectively. These dates are not exact as there is no definitive record of Socrates’ birth or death. However, historians have pieced together information from various sources to arrive at these estimates.
Socrates was born in Athens, Greece, and was originally a sculptor before he became a philosopher. He lived during a time of great political and social upheaval in Athens, which greatly influenced his philosophical ideas.
Socrates’ life and teachings were controversial, and he was eventually sentenced to death by the Athenian democracy. His death marked the end of his philosophical career but also solidified his legacy as one of the most influential philosophers in Western history.
Despite the lack of precise information about his birth and death, Socrates’ impact on philosophy and Western culture remains undeniable. His teachings on ethics, morality, and the pursuit of knowledge continue to be studied and debated by scholars today.
Disputes And Controversies Surrounding Socrates’ Life And Legacy
Despite his significant contributions to the field of philosophy, Socrates’ life and legacy have been the subject of much dispute and controversy. One of the main reasons for this is the fact that Socrates himself never wrote anything down, leaving his teachings and ideas to be interpreted and recorded by others, mainly his students Plato and Xenophon.
Furthermore, there are contradictory accounts of Socrates’ life and philosophy, making it difficult to reconstruct his true beliefs and teachings. This has led to what is known as the “Socratic problem,” which refers to the difficulty in determining what Socrates actually believed versus what was attributed to him by later writers.
Socrates was also a polarizing figure in Athenian society. While some admired him for his wisdom and devotion to truth, others saw him as a threat to traditional values and beliefs. This is reflected in his trial and execution, which some view as a miscarriage of justice, while others see it as a necessary punishment for his perceived impiety and corrupting influence on the youth.
Despite these controversies, Socrates’ impact on philosophy has been significant, with his ideas continuing to influence Western thought and culture to this day. His emphasis on self-knowledge, questioning assumptions, and the pursuit of wisdom has inspired generations of thinkers and continues to shape our understanding of the world around us.
