Socrates was born in Athens in 469 BCE. His father was a sculptor, and his mother was a mid-wife. Socrates was reportedly unattractive in appearance and short of build, but was extremely resilient and self-controlled. During his childhood he spent most of his time receiving an elementary education in literature, music and gymnastics. After his education he followed his fathers occupation of sculpting, which was a tradition. Later he served as an infantryman in the Peloponnesian war with Sparta.
             Socrates believed that argument & dialog were more superior to written text. He spent most of his time in the Market places of Athens engaging in dialogue and picking an argument with any person who was willing to argue with him. Plato one of his students documented these dialogues and arguments and later composed a series of books. These books allow us to get an insight into Socrates' teachings. Socrates opposed the Sophists, arguing that there are absolute standards of right and wrong, and good and bad which were based solely on knowledge. Since he disagreed with many of the Sophists of his time, he was tried and put to death, which he accepted with honor and dignity. Plato recounts the last hours of Socrates' life in a moving dialogue (The Apology) which reaffirms Socrates' love for truth, honor and his disregard for material goods.
             Socrates was put on trial to defend himself against allegations made by Meletus. Meletus accused Socrates of corrupting the minds of the youth, in Athens. Just like his philosophical practice, Socrates challenged all the allegations made against him by picking arguments with the jury in court. Socrates gave the jury some insights on his prospective of death. He tells them that he isn't afraid of death. He says that emotions follow from knowledge and since he doesn't have any knowledge about death, he has no feelings or emotions about death. "For let me tell you, gentlemen, that to be ...