The Philosophy of Socrates: Life and Death

Socrates is the first of the three great Greek philosophers whose work did so much to lay down the foundations of western thought that apply even in the twenty-first century. The greatness of Socrates means that he attracted more attention than many of the other early philosophers and so, despite the fact that he seems to have written nothing in his life, a reasonable amount of knowledge exists about his life and thought. The two principal sources of information are Plato, in numerous of whose dialogues Socrates appears as the central figure, and Aristotle, in whose Metaphysics Socrates is dealt with at some length. He is also written about in various other works, although these in general add little to overall understanding of his life or ideas.

Socrates was born around 470 BCE in Athens and he is deeply associated with that city. Athens and indeed Greece as a whole had only a decade previously escaped from the threat of Persian domination, as represented by victory in the great naval battle of Salamis. The city then began its ascendancy towards imperial status and passed through various different forms of governance associated with increasing power. Socrates was one of those who appears to have opposed the tyranny both of the ruling class (when this was warranted) and also the cruel tyranny of the people as a whole (again, when this manifested itself). He is described as having an iron sense of purpose and an ability to remain calm and resolute in the face of adversity, including the poverty that is believed to have inflicted him late in life. His wife, Xantippe, whom he married at quite a late age and left with three sons, appears to have suffered in terms of her reputation from perhaps malicious gossip.

Socrates was a public figure and active in the great debates of the day. Inevitably, therefore, he attracted his share of enemies. In 399 he was accused of ‘corrupting the young’ and ‘not believing in the gods of the city and practicing religious novelties.’ At the subsequent court case, he was found guilty by the jury by a majority of 280 to 220, according to extant records. The death penalty was requested but Socrates, like all people in such a situation, was entitled to specify a lesser penalty and it seems likely that this would have been accepted. Socrates, however, refused to compromise his position or his scruples and specified that he deserved to be fed for the rest of his life at the public expense. The jury, outraged, voted for death in increased numbers.

Socrates was then imprisoned and had time to settle his personal affairs, which is recorded by Plato. It is possible that people expected Socrates to escape from prison and pursue a life in exile, since the way in which he was being held meant it would not have been difficult for him to do so. However, Socrates refused once again to compromise and waited until the appointed moment when he voluntarily drank the poisonous hemlock that killed him.