Socrates (469-399 BC)

"I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing."

Who was Socrates?

Socrates was a philosopher in Athens, Greece, and is considered to have greatly influenced Western Philosophy. He didn't leave any written work, so what we know about the man comes from the writings and works of those like Xenophon, and his pupil, Plato. Along with educating the young with his beliefs, Socrates had also worked as a stone mason, and also served in the Peloponnesian War. What Socrates is best known for nowadays is probably the Socratic Method, which is a series of questioning that provokes critical thinking, and exposes contradictions, eventually leading to an answer.

Character-Along with being considered the wisest person of his time, Socrates also proved himself to be a man of action, and not just words. During the Peloponnesian War, he was said to have served very courageously. As well, he refused to accept payment for his teachers. In my opinion, what's most striking is that when Socrates was faced with death when officials claimed he was corrupting the youth, Socrates chose to die (and he refused to escape) rather than alter his beliefs.

Rating: 10

Success-It's difficult to really determine success for Socrates. He is considered one of the best philosophers of all time, and his beliefs influenced people through teachings of students like Plato. However, during his time, he was not very well received by the parents of his students, nor the government.

Rating: 7

Positive Contributions-While his method of questioning, the Socratic Method, is commonly used in law schools today, philosophy isn't something that really changes lives. His works didn't cure an illness or free people, though it did change people's way of thinking.

Rating: 5

Impact-Due to the times that he lived, and the fact that he didn't write down any of his teachings, Socrates' impact was limited to Athens, Greece. Indirectly, his beliefs would be spread throughout the western world.

Rating: 4

TOTAL RATING: 7.9 (1st of 1)