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Biography of Socrates

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Biography of Socrates
Socrates was born in 470 BCE in a culture rich Athens. After his service in the war, he returned to his native city and began his work in philosophy, which was rich in glory and culture, at its peak. He could be commonly seen at the market talking to citizens, or rather asking those a series of questions in an effort that eventually formed his doctrines. Socrates wrote nothing so most of what we know are from his slightly younger contemporaries, Aristophanes, Xenophon and most reputably Plato. These sources regarded Socrates of having a very high intellectual capacity but also possessed a good down to earth sense of humor. He was a very physically fit man with a robust appearance and an endurance in athletic abilities. Plato recalls Socrates as a man with moral purity as well a deep sense of mission. Socrates had an idea that philosophy would achieve practical and tangible results for greater well-being and advancement of society. He pointed out that human choices are motivated by their need for happiness and that the more a person is educated their ability to make decisions that bring true happiness will be increased. Socrates also adapted his philosophy into a political environment, saying that other than democracy or tyrannical rule, the government should be ruled by those with the greatest ability that fit the government position. Socrates treated Athens as his personal classroom, interviewing common men as well as those well-educated and with different roles in society. He claimed to be ignorant about his own views therefor did not lecture like some of his contemporaries. However Athens began to go through a drastic change and was soon defeated by Sparta in the Peloponnesian War. Contrary to his popularity and supports, Socrates was executed and forced to drink poison Hemlock

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