Socrates

Biography

A classical Greek (Athenian) philosopher credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, and as being the first moral philosopher of the Western ethical tradition of thought. He is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of classical writers, especially the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon.

Legacy

The Socratic method, a form of cooperative argumentative dialogue, remains a widely used tool in a broad range of discussions. His questioning of Athenian conventions ultimately led to his trial and execution, making him a martyr for free thought.