Why are we called Socrates?

Socrates was an ancient Greek philosopher and teacher. We adopted his name because we strive to match his honesty, originality and teaching skill. For
the curious, here is a brief guide to the man.

It is said that Socrates never wrote anything down, and so most of what we know of him is from the writings of Plato. Indeed it is hard to know which ideas originated from Socrates, and which from Plato.

Perhaps his most important contribution was his development of the dialectic method of enquiry, sometimes known as the Socratic method. It is widely used to this day, and is the origin of the scientific method of enquiry.

The trial and death of Socrates in 399 BC casts light on the character of the man, and has provided the subject for many works of art.

The oracle at Delphi said that none was wiser than Socrates. Socrates believed that this statement was meant as a riddle, since the oracle never praised individuals. He tested the riddle by approaching men who were considered wise. He found that they knew little but believed themselves to know much. Socrates concluded that he was only wise in that “what I don’t know, I don’t think I know.”

His criticism of the famous and influential citizens of Athens made him unpopular, and he was put on trial for corrupting the young with his teachings. He was sentenced to death, but his pupils provided him with the means to escape. Instead he chose to remain in Athens, and to take his own life by drinking hemlock.