Attribution:
Despite the fact that he left no literary legacy of his own, Socrates is still considered to be the founding father of Western Philosophy. Born in 469 B.C.E he took an early interest in science, studying under Archelaus. He gave up on the examination of the physical world, however, to concentrate on the exploration of morals and humanity.
Socrates invented the conception of philosophical dialogue and spent much of his time in discussion with the aristocratic youth of Athens. He was greatly respected by the younger generation and during his time as a teacher to them he never accepted payment. One of his pupils was Plato who went on to become another great philosopher. It is thanks to the work of Plato that we know anything about Socrates at all.
He was a controversial character, striving to challenge the popular beiefs of the time. This did not bode well with the older generations of the city and, in the end, he was charged with trying to corrupt the young and undermine the religion of the time. He was sentenced to death in 399 BC but before the execution could take please he took his own life. Among his friends, he drank hemlock, accepting his death with remarkable grace.
