Everyone has probably heard this saying before: "I know that I know nothing." It comes from Socrates, one of the most famous philosophers of ancient Greece. But that's usually where our knowledge of the Athenian philosopher ends. Here are a few details about his life:
Let's take a little trip back in time. A small suburb of Athens, 469 BC. The sculptor Sophroniscus and his wife Phenareta were overjoyed. Their little son, Socrates, was born! A few years later, there was a dispute in the family: Socrates' father wanted his son to follow in his footsteps and become a sculptor. But the boy simply had no talent for working with tools. Nevertheless, Socrates struggled for years to decide whether he could manage it after all. After all, it was a well-paid job.
But these thoughts were wiped away when he met Kriton. The Athenian became his muse and made him realize his true talent. After spending some time with the scholars of the time (including Prodicus and Archlaus), it was clear to him that he wanted to open people's eyes with philosophy. The Athenians should follow his motto and "be courageous in thinking and never give up doubting".
But anyone who now thinks that he only ever discussed things is mistaken. A lot happened in Socrates' life: He fought against the Potideans in his mid-thirties, survived the rampant plague and also braved a cold snap that was unusual for Athens. However, he devoted the majority of his life to debating with his fellow countrymen. He philosophized with them on the street, in the bathhouse or even in private homes.
He used an interesting tactic here: "maieutics" or the art of midwifery. He asked many questions in line with his insight: I know that I know nothing. His aim was to use questions to bring the other person to their own conclusions. People should not be lectured to, they should simply think for themselves. Socrates was firmly convinced that there are no fixed truths. In his opinion, every "truth" had to face new doubts and questions again and again.
The word philosophy translates as "love of wisdom".
His approach was very subtle. He began with a harmless question to engage his counterpart in a conversation. Gradually, the discussion moved more and more towards ethics. With questions such as "What is good?" or "What is just?" he tried to draw the truth out of his conversation partners. Because he is convinced that every person already carries the truth within them. It just has to be brought out ("born" - hence the art of midwifery).
Socrates did not consider it necessary to record his teachings and insights anywhere in writing. Everything that is known about him comes from the notes of his students. Plato and Xenophon in particular did a great job with their notes. Plato, for example, recorded his teacher's thoughts and even entire dialogues in writing.
The beginning of the end.
Unfortunately, freedom of speech was not very common in ancient Athens. Socrates did not hide his opinion of the one or other influential Athenian. But he didn't only have friends among his fellow philosophers either. He was sharply attacked for his way of conducting discussions. But that was the least of his problems. Socrates had been accused - and the accusations were quite serious.
The philosopher was accused of "disrespecting the gods". He was also said to have corrupted the youth. Around 500 jurors attended the trial. Socrates was already very popular during his lifetime. One of his students even disguised himself as a woman in order to be able to visit him. The native of Megarsen was forbidden by death penalty to enter the territory of hostile Athens. But a visit to his teacher was worth the risk. And now Socrates was on trial and the crowd expected an apology.
But Socrates did not see that. Quite the opposite. He went on the offensive and even attacked his accuser! With words, mind you. The defendant started a discussion to show that his opponent was unreasonable and thoughtless. However, the tactic backfired badly. Instead of a few years in prison, he was now facing the death penalty.
"Run away!"
His friends begged him to flee after all. But Socrates was stubborn. In his opinion, escaping would have been worse than the actual punishment. He preferred to face death. The execution was to be carried out with the cup of hemlock. The poisonous drink made from the spotted hemlock was the usual method of execution at the time.
Socrates sat with his friends one last time, took another bath and bid farewell to his three sons. In the presence of his friends and his muse Kriton, he finally took the cup and emptied it in one go. Without a single sign of nervousness or fear.
Plato wrote about the death of Socrates in his work "Phaidon":
"Then he (Socrates) said he felt his legs getting heavy and lay down on his back as the henchman had ordered him. Immediately afterwards the henchman approached him, examined his feet and legs for a while, then pressed one of his feet very hard and asked if he felt it. Socrates replied in the negative. He then squeezed his legs and raised his arms to show that his body was stiffening and becoming rigid. He felt him again and told us that Socrates would have left us as soon as the cold had reached the heart. ..."
Socrates died in 399 B.C. Thanks to his students Plato and Xenophon, he left us a wealth of wisdom and is considered the founder of "autonomous ethics". Of course, you can't write about Socrates and not include any of his quotes. Here are some of his most inspiring statements:
- There is sunshine in everyone, you just have to make it shine.
- As goes man, so goes his speech.
- Marry in any case. If you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad wife, you'll become a philosopher.
- If you want to move the world, you have to move yourself first.
- Man, know yourself, then you know everything.
Finally, an interesting fact: there is a conspiracy theory that Socrates never really lived. Precisely because he never wrote anything down. I'll just leave it at that.
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Sources:
https://philosophie-der-stoa.de/sokrates-letzte-worte/
https://gedankenwelt.de/die-beruehmtesten-zitate-von-sokrates/
https://www.studysmarter.de/schule/geschichte/antike/sokrates/
https://www.planet-wissen.de/geschichte/antike/das_klassische_athen/pwiesokrates100.html
Photo credits: Ingrid Müller
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