Socrates

470 — 399 BC

Socrates was a classical Greek philosopher who is considered one of the founders of Western philosophy. He is known primarily through the accounts of his students, including Plato and Xenophon, who wrote about his life, teachings, and trial.

Socrates did not leave any written works of his own, but his method of questioning, known as the Socratic method, is still widely used today. He believed that the pursuit of wisdom and virtue was the highest goal of human life, and he encouraged his students to question their own beliefs and assumptions in order to arrive at a deeper understanding of the world.

Socrates' legacy has had a profound impact on Western philosophy, particularly in the fields of ethics, epistemology, and logic. His emphasis on critical thinking and self-examination has influenced countless philosophers and thinkers throughout history, and his ideas continue to be studied and debated by scholars and students today.