Socrates was a Greek Athenian Philosopher. He was born in approx. 470 B.C.  His father Sophroniscus was an Athenian stone mason and sculptor and his mother Phaenarete a midwife.

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He studied geometry, astronomy, science, drama and art in his early life. He began his life as a sculpture but abandoned it after he had a calling for teaching.  His divine commission, witnessed by oracles, dreams and signs, was to convict men of ignorance mistaking itself for knowledge, and doing so to promote their intellectual and moral improvement.

Socrates himself wrote nothing, therefore evidence of his life and activities must come from the writings of Plato and Xenophon (431–352 B.C.E. ). Plato’s writing of  Apology, Crito, Phaedo, and Symposium contain details of Socrates which must come close to fact.  From these we learn, he was well known in Athens and well liked by the young men who liked to prove their elders wrong.  Socrates like to debate and agrue in which he made many enemies.  We also learn that he was short, poor and ugly.  He lived with the most basic necessities.

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When Socrates was about 38 years old, he fought for Athens against the Spartans in the Peloponnesian War (431–404 B.C.).  Athens was defeated by the Spartans.

When Socrates was in his forties, he began asking tough questions, “What is Wisdom?” “What is Beauty?” “What is the right thing to do?” He began his questioning by stopping people walking around Athens and asking them their opinions.  Most would either keep walking or simply tell him they were too busy.  Soon, he had a following of young men that he would listen and learn from him.  His students were tought how to think.  One student was Plato, who documented his teachings.

Socrates married in his 50’s to a shrewd woman named Xanthippe.  His domestic relations are said to be unhappy.  She was hot tempered and a nag.  She did not like the fact that he didn’t charge any fees for his teaching.  (can we blame her for being a bit hot tempered?) He had three sons, oldest to youngest, were Lamprocles, Sophroniscus (named for Socrates’ father), and Menexenus.  Later, in 415 B.C., Craco’s Law authorized polygamy for the purpose of increasing the male population of the state.  Socrates is believed to have taken a second wife during this time.