Socrates (Greek: S????t??, invariably anglicized as [s?k??ti?z], Socrates; circa 470–399 BCE) was an ancient Greek philosopher who is widely credited for laying the foundation for Western philosophy. By far the most important source of information about Socrates is Plato, who depicts him as a contradictory character. Plato's dialogs feature Socrates as a teacher who denies having disciples, as a man of reason who obeys a divine voice in his head, a pious man who is executed for religious improprieties. Socrates disparages the pleasures of the senses, yet is excited by youthful beauty; he is devoted to the education of the boys of Athens, yet indifferent to his own sons; few other characters have so fascinated the western world.The trial and execution of Socrates was the climax of his career and the central event of the dialogs of Plato. According to Plato, however, both were unnecessary. Socrates admits in court that he could have avoided his trial in the first place by abandoning philosophy and going home to mind his own business. After his court conviction, he could have avoided the death penalty by agreeing to pay a small fine, and once in prison he could have escaped. Socrates participated in his famous martyrdom every step of the way, and his story supplies, one way or the other, the foundation for western philosophy.
