The Search for Wisdom: Socrates's Life and Mission

Socrates was one of the first philosophers and has, consequently, become one of the most famous philosophers. He was born in 470 B.C. in Athens, Greece, the son of a sculptor and a midwife. Unlike other philosophers and most of his students, Socrates came from a humble background. Quite an interesting fact unknown to many about Socrates is that his method of philosophy was quite similar to the occupation of his parents. His father was a sculptor and like a sculptor chisels away at a piece of marble removing the unneeded material, so did Socrates chisel away at ideas through his dialectic, exposing those unwanted and unnecessary definitions to achieve a better and more clearer one, always searching for the best and most efficient one. Moreover, his mother was a midwife and just as she gave birth to new life so did Socrates attempt to open people's eyes to their own ignorance and, in a sense, give birth to the truth. He often referred to himself as the "midwife of ideas," no doubt in reference of his mother.

Socrates was passionate about philosophy and searched for wisdom on a daily basis by employing such methods as his dialectic and use of the reductio ad absurdum argument, both of which posed questions and then evaluated their provided answers down to an absurdity until the most revised and precise definition was reached. Socrates was once pronounced the wisest man alive simply because he realized that he was not wise. He stated that he knew nothing and was ignorant and being aware that he knew nothing and was ignorant is what was said to have made him wise, for he knew that he knew nothing. He only searched for wisdom.

Socrates gained quite a following of students, especially young students and, as can be expected, he gained quite his share of enemies too, namely powerful officials and those of high statue. Such ones disapproved of Socrates's teachings and proclaimed that he was corrupting the youth and turning them from the traditional way of the gods, filling their heads with nonsense and blasphemy. Eventually, he was called to Grecian court and sentenced to death for his teachings if he would not stop them. So strongly did Socrates feel about philosophy that he chose to die rather than to halt his pursuit of wisdom. In one of his most famous speeches, the Apology, he addressed the court of Athens, but not with begging or pleading for his life but rather as an astounding profession of formal defense of his actions. Throughout his whole execution he maintained a calm composure due to, he said, the fact that he had been liberated by wisdom. His willingness to die for his teachings have indeed assured that they live on and that his life and principles will be remembered.

Source: (Lawhead, The Philosophical Journey).