the history of mankind.
Born in 470 BC as the son of the sculptor Sophroniskos and the midwife Painarete, his teaching shook the Athenian polis.
He did not attach any importance to natural philosophy and science, but only to the ethical education of his fellow citizens. The prerequisite for obtaining the right knowledge is self-knowledge, especially the knowledge of one's own ignorance ("I know that I know nothing".).
Socrates was a thorn in the side of leading representatives of state power with his doctrine. They accused him of seducing the youth and denying the gods of state. In 399 B.C., 71-year-old Socrates was forced to drink poison, the hemlock.
Socrates left no writings. Dialogues of his students Plato ("Apology", "Kriton", "Phaidon") and Xenophon are an eternal, literarily impressive monument to his humanity, steadfastness, fearlessness, his sense of justice.....
Socrates quote: "Marry in any case! You get a good wife, you'll be happy. "If you get a bad one, you become a philosopher." (An allusion to his extremely quarrelsome wife Xanthippe.)
...and his humor.
Bust of the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates,
Museum replica of the so-called Farnese Herme, exhibit of the Museo Archeological in Naples