Socrates

[ sok-ruh-teez ]

noun

1. 469?–399 b.c., Athenian philosopher.

Socrates

/ ˈsɒkrəˌtiːz /

noun

1. Socrates?470 bc399 bcMAthenianPHILOSOPHY: philosopher ?470–399 bc , Athenian philosopher, whose beliefs are known only through the writings of his pupils Plato and Xenophon. He taught that virtue was based on knowledge, which was attained by a dialectical process that took into account many aspects of a stated hypothesis. He was indicted for impiety and corruption of youth (399) and was condemned to death. He refused to flee and died by drinking hemlock

Socrates

1. An ancient Greek philosopher who was the teacher of Plato .

Notes

Socrates said that an oracle of the gods had pronounced him the wisest of all people, because he knew how little he knew.

When Socrates was an old man, the citizens of Athens (see also Athens ) condemned him to death, alleging that he denied the reality of the gods and corrupted the youth of Athens. Socrates calmly drank the poison he was given — hemlock — and died a noble death.

The Socratic method of teaching proceeds by question and answer as opposed to lecture.

Other Words From

• an·ti-Soc·ra·tes adjective
• pro-Soc·ra·tes adjective

Example Sentences

For Socrates, the puzzle of politics and “ideology” could not be unraveled without understanding what ruled human souls.

From The Daily Beast

The youthful nobility were singled out by Socrates because they, above all others, were both erotic and courageous.

From The Daily Beast

Like Socrates, Street Epistemologists are to understand themselves as inquisitive teachers, not combative lecturers.

From The Daily Beast

The unexamined life is not worth living, according to Socrates.

From The Daily Beast

That was the most ill-advised drink of liquid since Socrates took hemlock.

From The Daily Beast

Socrates, the wisest of men in the eyes of Apollo, admired this exercise and learned dancing in his old age.

From Project Gutenberg

Lucian attaches an intelligible meaning to these flippant expletives, and represents Socrates as justifying their use.

From Project Gutenberg

Besides the oath of Socrates, “by the dog,” he is reported to have sworn variously by the goose and by the plane-tree.

From Project Gutenberg

Socrates learned his philosophy from no one, and struck out an entirely new path.

From Project Gutenberg

Bacon was disgusted with ineffective logical speculations, and Socrates with ineffective physical researches.

From Project Gutenberg