Socrates
By Illa Vij

DESPITE the fact that Socrates left no writings, this Greek philosopher is considered one of the world’s greatest thinkers. The writings of Plato have been the chief source of information about Socrates’ life and his teachings.The great historian Xenophon also wrote extensively about him.

Socrates was born in Athens about 469 B.C. In his early life he followed the profession of his father, who was a sculptor. He took little interest in earning money and could barely support his wife and three sons. This casual attitude infuriated his wife, Xanthippe. She didn’t realise that this great man had a treasure of knowledge which he would impart to the world. Of course he never charged a fee for it and that’s what kept them poor. But then like we all know, Socrates was no ordinary man and materialistic things did not attract him.

Of his teachings, the most important is that he taught people to think! People blindly followed the conventional rules of life, without any reasoning or logical thinking. Socrates taught numerous things, with numerous examples. He spoke to groups of people, encouraged a discussion and then finally came to a conclusion which seemed logical and made sense. He respected all traditional deities, but believed in one Supreme Ruler of the universe. He insisted upon the moral importance of clear thinking and encouraged people by saying, ‘‘Before we start talking, let’s decide what are we talking about’’. The basis of his ethics is the principle that all vice is ignorance and that no one is wilfully bad. People came from all over the world to hear him. Rich families sent their sons to gain wisdom from him, but Socrates never accepted any fee. All the great schools of philosophy that sprang up in the Greek and later in the Roman worlds claimed descent from him.

Socrates would wake up at dawn, eat a breakfast of bread dipped in wine, wear a tunic and a cloak and leave the house in search of a temple, a shop, a friend’s house, or the public bath — simply anywhere, where he could get into an argument. And, from that argument, reasoning emerged and gradually wisdom.

Once a friend of his asked the Oracle at Delphi to tell who was the wisest man in Athens. The Oracle mentioned Socrates. Socrates claimed that his name was chosen because the Oracle knew that he (Socrates) knew, that the oracle didn’t know anything! It wasn’t surprising that Socrates made many enemies. Conservatives were alarmed at his teachings. They did not want anyone to defy the prevailing practices and forms of social thinking. They feared his courage to challenge and reason out things. They feared him because he questioned traditional morality and proposed to substitute reason for custom.

In 399 B.C., Socrates was charged with godlessness and corruption of the youth of Athens. He was tried by a jury of 501 citizens and condemned to death by a margin of only 60. He had the legal privilege of proposing a milder penalty, but he refused to be humbled and implore. He declared that as a good citizen he must obey the law of the city and so he accepted to die. Socrates spent his last night on earth, discussing philosophy with his young friends. They discussed whether there was life after death. When the time came, Socrates himself sent for the cup of hemlock, a poisonous drink, that he was expected to consume. He drank it and walked around till his legs became heavy. When he lay down, the numbness spread to his heart and his life ended. His followers sobbed bitterly. Due to the foolishness and ego of some citizens, the world had lost a valuable thinker, and the wisest and the most just man of his time.