SOCRATES (470-400 B.C.):
Greek philosopher and teacher to PLATO who criticized the vice
and folly of government and the weakness of popular THEOLOGY. Convicted of corrupting
youth and being unfaithful to the GODS and the State, he was condemned to either go into
exile or drink Hemlock (poison): he chose Hemlock. Plato idealizes him as a teacher of
DIALECTIC and ARISTOTLE credits him with being the first philosopher to seek UNIVERSAL
principles and precise definition. His method of inquiry involving question and
counter-question is known as the SOCRATIC METHOD.