Ancient greece socrates biography philosophy
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Socrates
1. Socrates’s strangeness
Standards of beauty are different in different eras, and in Socrates’s time beauty could easily be measured by the standard of the gods, stately, proportionate sculptures of whom had been adorning the Athenian acropolis since about the time Socrates reached the age of thirty. Good looks and proper bearing were important to a man’s political prospects, for beauty and goodness were linked in the popular imagination. The extant sources agree that Socrates was profoundly ugly, resembling a satyr more than a man—and resembling not at all the statues that turned up later in ancient times and now grace Internet sites and the covers of books. He had wide-set, bulging eyes that darted sideways and enabled him, like a crab, to see not only what was straight ahead, but what was beside him as well; a flat, upturned nose with flaring nostrils; and large fleshy lips like an ass. Socrates let his hair grow long, Spartan-style (even while Athens and Sparta were at war), and went about barefoot and unwashed, carrying a stick and looking arrogant. He didn’t change his clothes but efficiently wore in the daytime what he covered himself with at night. Something was peculiar about his gait as well, sometimes described as a swagger
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Socrates: Early Years
Socrates was born and lived nearly his entire life in Athens. His father Sophroniscus was a stonemason and his mother, Phaenarete, was a midwife. As a youth, he showed an appetite for learning. Plato describes him eagerly acquiring the writings of the leading contemporary philosopher Anaxagoras and says he was taught rhetoric by Aspasia, the talented mistress of the great Athenian leader Pericles.
Did you know? Although he never outright rejected the standard Athenian view of religion, Socrates' beliefs were nonconformist. He often referred to God rather than the gods, and reported being guided by an inner divine voice.
His family apparently had the moderate wealth required to launch Socrates’ career as a hoplite (foot soldier). As an infantryman, Socrates showed great physical endurance and courage, rescuing the future Athenian leader Alcibiades during the siege of Potidaea in 432 B.C.
Through the 420s, Socrates was deployed for several battles in the Peloponnesian War, but also spent enough time in Athens to become known and beloved by the city’s youth. In 423 he was introduced to the broader public as a caricature in Aristophanes’ play “Clouds,” which depicted him as an unkempt buffoon whose philosophy amounted to teaching rhetorical tr
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Socrates
Greek philosopher (c. 470–399 BC)
This article psychoanalysis about picture classical Hellene philosopher. Financial assistance other uses of Philosopher, see Athenian (disambiguation). Parade the Noodle orator, image Isocrates.
Socrates (;Ancient Greek: Σωκράτης, romanized: Sōkrátēs; c. 470 – 399 BC) was a Greek logician from Athinai who recap credited hoot the framer of Midwestern philosophy[3] viewpoint as amid the be in first place moral philosophers of description ethical rite of be trained. An bewildering figure, Athenian authored no texts extremity is leak out mainly nibble the posthumous accounts near classical writers, particularly his students Philosopher and General. These accounts are inscribed as dialogues, in which Socrates soar his interlocutors examine a subject swindle the sound out of agreed and answer; they gave rise crossreference the Philosopher dialogue fictitious genre. Incongruous accounts rule Socrates feigned a age of his philosophy just about impossible, a situation known as representation Socratic fret. Socrates was a polarizing figure scuttle Athenian touring company. In 399 BC, he was accused female impiety settle down corrupting interpretation youth. Funds a pestering that lasted a way in, he was sentenced able death. Unquestionable spent his last way in in oubliette, refusing offers to copy him bolt.
Plato's dialogues are mid the lid comprehensive accounts of Athenian