SOCRATES, an ancient moral philosopher of dis tinguished eminence, was born at Alopece a village near Athens, B. C. 469. His father Sophroniscus was a statuary, and his mother Pl,:enarctta a midwife. Having lost his small patrimony by the dishonesty of a relation, he pursued his father's profession, and is said to have executed statues of the habited graces, which were thought worthy of a place in the citadel of Athens.
Crito, a wealthy Athenian, engaged him to .educate his children, and in this situation he found leisure to attend the lessons of Archelaus and Anaxagoras, two of the most eminent teachers of the day. 1Iis valour was exhibited in saving the life of Alcibiades, and in carrying off Xenophon when left wounded on the field of battle; and his wisdom and integrity were equally conspicuous when he served his country in the senate of 500.
Afflicted with the moral and intellectual condition of his countrymen, Socrates resolved to beco public instructer at Athens, by conversation ands .:y public lectures addressed at all seasonable times to all classes of the community, from the mechanic up to the senator. In these communications with his fel low citizens, his object was to convince his hearers of their individual follies and vices, to inspire them with a love of virtue, and to impress upon them the conviction of the narrow limits of the human under standing. His plan consisted in asking a series of questions, and in gaining the assent of his pupils to certain truths which they themselves could not but deduce from their own previous admissions; and such was the skill with which he often concluded these examinations, that his pupil was not aware of the con clusion till he found it irresistible upon his own prin ciples.
The humility which characterised the deportment of this great man, the uniform excellence of his con duct, the abstemiousness of his life, and his contempt of wealth and popular applause, point out Socrates as one of those superior beings whom Providence occa sionally exhibits to the world as an example for future ages. "The man," says Xenophon, "whose memoirs I have written, was so pious that he undertook no thing without asking the counsel of the gods; so just, that he never did the smallest injury to any one, but rendered essential services to many; so temperate, that he never preferred pleasure to virtue; and so wise, that he was able in the most difficult cases, without advice, to judge what was expedient and right. He
was eminently qualified to aid others by his advice; to penetrate into men's characters; to reprehend them for their vices, and to excite them to the practice of virtue. Having found all these excellencies in Socra tes, I have always regarded him as the most virtuous, and the happiest of men." It was not to be expected that the enemy of public immorality, and of political corruption and oppres sion, could escape the hostility of those who smarted under the exposure of their vices. The immoral youth of Athens hired Aristophanes to lampoon him on the stage, in the comedy of the "Clouds," writ ten for this purpose. Socrates himself attended the performance of the piece, and when the person who represented himself appeared upon the stage, Socra tes stood up to exhibit the original of the character to the inquiring audience. When he was asked by a spectator if he was not chagrined at this public deri sion, he replied,'' By no means, I am only a host at a public festival, where I provide a large company with entertainment." Baffled in this attempt to disgrace the philosopher, the malice of his enemies was directed into a new channel. Ile was publicly accused before the senate, by one Melitus a rhetorician, of ''not acknowledging the gods which the state acknowledges; of introduc ing new deities, and of violating the laws by corrupt ing the youth." Anylus, a leather-dresser and the principal accuser, offered to withdraw the charge if Socrates would desist from censuring his conduct: but Socrates replied, that "while he lived be never would disguise the truth, nor speak otherwise than his duty required." On° the day of the trial, Plato rose to address the court in favour of his master, but lie was soon com manded to sit down. Socrates then made his own de fence, and unveiled in the most powerful manner, the characters and motives of his accusers. A corrupted and unjust court, however, who had predetermined his death, listened not to the truth; and Socrates was condemned to he poisoned by hemlock.