Socrates

During Socrates’ early years he worked as a stonemason in Athens. He was then recruited to fight in the Peloponnesian war which he fought heroically from many accounts. The hard work and dedication that was required and fighting in the war are believed to dramatically shape Socrates’ view on the world. When Socrates started teaching, he met with young students outside the agora in workshops. The Socratic Method uses questions to determine an underlying belief on a topic. This got his students to think freely and for themselves. Athens attracted great thinkers about primarily science and this was at odds with traditional Greek teachings which the explanation for events were the Gods. Socrates was therefore charged with corruption of the youth and not believing in the Gods. Socrates was found guilty by a jury of 500 males and was sentenced to death by drinking poison hemlock. Socrates had an opportunity to escape just before his death but refused, proving his loyalty to Athenian democracy.