Biography

Socrates (470-399 BC) was a Greek philosopher from Athens who is credited as the founder of Western philosophy and among the first moral philosophers of the ethical tradition of thought. An enigmatic figure, Socrates authored no texts and is known mainly through the posthumous accounts of classical writers, particularly his students Plato and Xenophon. These accounts are written as dialogues, in which Socrates and his interlocutors examine a subject in the style of question and answer; they gave rise to the Socratic dialogue literary genre. Contradictory accounts of Socrates make a reconstruction of his philosophy nearly impossible, a situation known as the Socratic problem. Socrates was a polarizing figure in Athenian society. In 399 BC, he was accused of impiety and corrupting the youth. After a trial that lasted a day, he was sentenced to death. He spent his last day in prison, refusing offers to help him escape.
- IMDb mini biography by: Bonitao

Played by dozens of actors, most notably Ermete Zacconi, Tony Steedman, Eric Idle, James Mason, Peter Ustinov, Elliott Gould, Jean Sylvère, and John Belushi. And Eddie Izzard.

Among his pupils was Plato, who, along with the plays of Aristophanes, is the main source of what historians know of his life.

Born circa 470 B.C. in Athens. Executed in 399 B.C. by being forced by to drink a cup of hemlock after being found guilty of "refusing to recognize the gods recognized by the state" and "corrupting the youth." Two of his students had twice briefly overthrown the government of Athens, instituting a reign of terror in which thousands of citizens were deprived of their property and either banished from the city or executed.

Credited as the founder of Western philosophy. Subject of the Jacques Louis David painting "The Death of Socrates".

The people who brought about his execution would themselves be driven to suicide.

Things are in a bad way: children disrespect their parents, and everyone is writing a book.

The unexamined life is not worth living.

Man must rise above the Earth -- to the top of the atmosphere and beyond -- for only thus will he fully understand the world in which he lives