A History of Western Philosophy

Socrates (c. 470-399 BCE) is the first Greek philosopher who is widely known to the general public. His life and teachings are recorded in the writings of his pupil, Plato. Yet how much of this information is reliable is open to debate; it is not clear how far Plato is portraying the historical Socrates and how far he is using Socrates as a “mouthpiece of his own opinions” (84). Russell goes so far as to stake the claim that Plato “could have invented” (840) Socrates entirely.

What is known for certain is that Socrates was a middle-class citizen of Athens who spent his time engaging in philosophical disputations with the citizens and teaching philosophy to the youth. At about the age of 70, he was accused of impiety, tried, and condemned to death by drinking hemlock.

In Plato’s writings, Socrates is presented engaging in philosophical dialogues with various characters, and in this way his thought on various topics is expounded. Socrates’s trial and death is recounted in Plato’s Apology.

Russell characterizes Socrates as depicted in Plato’s writings as “very sure of himself, high-minded, indifferent to worldly success, believing that he is guided by a divine