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Socrates Timeline

(470 BCE – 399 BCE)

Socrates (c. 470–399 BCE) was an ancient Greek philosopher from Athens, widely regarded as one of the founders of Western philosophy. Known for his Socratic method of questioning, he left no writings of his own; his ideas survive through the works of his students Plato and Xenophon. He was tried and executed by Athens for impiety and corrupting the youth. Less

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Ancient Legacy

Socrates's religious nonconformity reshapes discourse

399 BC

Socrates's religious nonconformity challenged the views of his times and his critique reshaped religious discourse for the coming centuries.

Image source: Socrates

Socrates's religious nonconformity reshapes discourse

Interest in Socrates increases until third century AD

100 AD - 300 AD

Interest in Socrates kept increasing until the third century AD, as ancient writers and philosophers continued to engage with his life, methods, and teachings.

Modern Philosophy

German idealism revives interest in Socrates

1701 - 1800

In the 18th century, German idealism revived philosophical interest in Socrates, mainly through Hegel's work.

Image source: German idealism

German idealism revives interest in Socrates

Popper links Socratic individualism to open society

1945

For Popper, Socratic individualism, along with Athenian democracy, imply Popper's concept of the 'open society' as described in his The Open Society and Its Enemies (1945).

Image source: The Open Society and Its Enemies

Popper links Socratic individualism to open society

Arendt invokes Socratic questioning in Eichmann in Jerusalem

1963

Arendt, in Eichmann in Jerusalem (1963), suggests that Socrates's constant questioning and self-reflection could prevent the banality of evil.

Image source: Eichmann in Jerusalem

Arendt invokes Socratic questioning in Eichmann in Jerusalem

Vlastos critiques the Socratic method

1982

In 1982, the scholar of ancient philosophy Gregory Vlastos claimed that the Socratic method could not be used to establish the truth or falsehood of a proposition.

Historiography of Socrates

Schleiermacher attacks Xenophon's accounts

1818

In a seminal work titled 'The Worth of Socrates as a Philosopher' (1818), the philosopher Friedrich Schleiermacher attacked Xenophon's accounts; his attack was widely accepted.

Image source: Friedrich Schleiermacher

Schleiermacher attacks Xenophon's accounts

Xenophon's account largely rejected by scholars

1900 - 1930

By the early twentieth century, Xenophon's account was largely rejected.

Image source: Xenophon

Xenophon's account largely rejected by scholars

Gigon and Dupréel propose studying versions of Socrates

1940 - 1960

In the mid-twentieth century, philosophers such as Olof Gigon and Eugène Dupréel, based on Joel's arguments, proposed that the study of Socrates should focus on the various versions of his character and beliefs rather than aiming to reconstruct a historical Socrates.

Nietzsche's Critique

The Birth of Tragedy blames Socrates for Greek decline

1872

In his first book, The Birth of Tragedy (1872), Nietzsche held Socrates responsible for what he saw as the deterioration of ancient Greek civilization during the 4th century BC and after.

Image source: The Birth of Tragedy

The Birth of Tragedy blames Socrates for Greek decline

Anti-rationalism seen as source of Nietzsche's hostility

1875 - 1925

From the late 19th century until the early 20th, the most common explanation of Nietzsche's hostility towards Socrates was his anti-rationalism; he considered Socrates the father of European rationalism.

Twilight of the Idols continues Nietzsche's offensive

1887

In a later publication, The Twilight of the Idols (1887), Nietzsche continued his offensive against Socrates, focusing on the arbitrary linking of reason to virtue and happiness in Socratic thinking.

Image source: Twilight of the Idols

Twilight of the Idols continues Nietzsche's offensive

Kaufmann argues Nietzsche admired Socrates

1950 - 1960

In the mid-20th century, philosopher Walter Kaufmann published an article arguing that Nietzsche admired Socrates.

Image source: Walter Kaufmann (philosopher)

Kaufmann argues Nietzsche admired Socrates

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Key Facts

  1. Socrates was born around 470 BCE in Athens, Greece, to a stonemason father and a midwife mother.
  2. He developed the 'Socratic method,' a form of dialogue using probing questions to stimulate critical thinking and expose contradictions in beliefs.
  3. Socrates wrote nothing himself; our knowledge of him comes primarily from the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon, as well as the playwright Aristophanes.
  4. In 399 BCE, Socrates was tried by an Athenian jury on charges of impiety and corrupting the youth, and was sentenced to death by drinking hemlock.
  5. His death made him a martyr for philosophy, profoundly influencing his student Plato and, through him, the entire Western philosophical tradition.

Source

This Socrates timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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