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Socrates

http://www.worldofbiography.com/0007-Socrates/index1.htm

Socrates was born about 10 years after the Battle of Salamis. His father, Sophronisus, was a friend of the family of Aristides, the founder of the Delian League, empire arose. The philosopher's mother, Phaenarete, acted as a "midwife".

Socrates married late in life, Xantippe (Xanthi), whom he left three sons. One an infant. There is no evidence, however, that she was a "shrew".

When his son Lamprocles got angry because of his mother's temper, Socrates taught him to be grateful for all the gifts a mother has given to child.

Socrates was a good warrior, his outward appearance was grotesque, stout and with prominent eyes, snub nose, broad nostrils and wide mouth.

"Intellectually the acutest man of his age, he was himself the dullest person and morally the purest.

He had an ardent and amorous temperament.

He liked to spend all his time in the streets, marketplace, and more particularly, gymnasia. He cared little for the country. He also talked freely to politicians, poets, and artisans about various subjects, of their notions, of right and wrong, familiar matters of their interest.

Socrates, as a young man, was enthusiastically interested in "natural science", and so, familiarized himself with the nature. That "Mind" is the source of all cosmic order because this meant, "everything is ordered as its best, as it should be" that the universe is a rational teleological system. He loved the "ethical", character and conduct, both private and public, with "nature" at large.

He was one of the eminent philosophers who believed in God and acknowledged his sovereignty. He practiced self-denial, repressed his appetites for sensual desires and turned away from material pleasures. He went to the mountains where he dwelt in cave. He dissuaded men from worshipping idols and taught them the way to God, the Lord of Mercy, until the ignorant rose up against him. They arrested him and put him in prison to death.

What a penetrating vision of philosophy this eminent man had! He is most distinguished of all philosophers and was well versed in wisdom. He had a profound knowledge of such sciences as were current amongst men and their minds.

Sophist (non-Athenian teachers who were paid to teach Athenian youths rhetoric and other practical skills); the sophists taught eristics or the skill of clever debate which aimed at winning arguments and legal battles at any cost and with little concern for the truth. The sophists were both scorned and sought after. Socrates' dialectical question / answer method was confused with the bellicose debate of the sophists.

Twelve-year-old boy Cricious was very sad and depressed because his father Dayomid was sentenced to death as a punishment for treason to Athens. When Socrates saw him, he was moved with his sadness and depression. When Cricious asked him questions, he answered very lovingly. Socrates, the grand man convinced a twelve-year lad to be his friend! Later on, grown up Cricious could see that it was Socrates' affection, more than friendship.

Once upon a time while loitering Socrates happened to meet an artisan, who was young and enthusiastic.

Gossiping about things here and there, the artisan questioned to Socrates, whether he should marry or not ? Obviously Socrates, replied to the artisan that; "he should marry"; and further told, "By all means marry. If you get a good wife, you will become happy, and if you get a bad one, you will become a philosopher."