Socrates of Athens (Σωκράτης ὁ Ἀθηναῖος, c. 470–399 BCE) was an Athenian philosopher, the son of the stonemason Sophroniscus and the midwife Phaenarete [1]. He served as a hoplite in the Peloponnesian War and spent his life in Athens engaging citizens in philosophical dialogue [1][2]. He employed a question-and-answer method (the elenchus) to examine ethical concepts [1][2][4]. In 399 BCE, he was tried and executed by drinking hemlock after being convicted on charges of impiety and corrupting the youth [1][2][3].

Socrates authored no written works [1][2][3][4]. All philosophical ideas attributed to him are preserved in the writings of others, primarily his students Plato and Xenophon, and the playwright Aristophanes [1][2].

He is a foundational figure in Western philosophy, marking a shift toward ethics and critical inquiry [1][2]. His trial and death became a defining symbol of the philosopher’s commitment to truth, and his method directly inspired the traditions of Plato and Aristotle [1][2][4]. The "Socratic problem"—distinguishing the historical Socrates from his literary portrayals—remains central to scholarship [1][2].

Sources 1. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/socrates/ 2. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: https://iep.utm.edu/socrates/ 3. Encyclopædia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Socrates 4. World History Encyclopedia: https://www.worldhistory.org/socrates/