Socrates

Socrates was a philosopher who taught by asking questions. When teachers ask questions that encourage students to draw conclusions, they are using the "Socratic method" of teaching. Socrates asked many questions, but he gave few answers. Socrates was a well-known teacher in Athens. He drifted around the city with his students, engaging many people in arguments. What we know about Socrates comes from what others wrote about him. Socrates did not write any books since he believed it was better to debate than write.

Socrates regarded the tales of the gods as just make-believe. This upset the leaders of Athens and they threatened to bring him to trial for neglecting the gods and for corrupting the children of Athens by encouraging them to consider new ideas. The leaders expected the seventy year old Socrates to leave Athens before his arrest, but he remained in Athens, stood trial, and was found guilty. A friend tried to plan an escape from prison, but Socrates refused to participate. He believed that he must obey the law, even if he disagreed with it. His last day was spent with friends. At the end of the day, Socrates calmly drank from a cup of poison hemlock, the customary practice of execution at that time.