SOCRATES (539-469 B.C.)

 Socrates is renowed as a versatile political genius whose philosophy left undeniable impression on the political history of States.He is called "father of ancient Greek philosophy" He advocated for justice, truth and morality.

His Early Life: 

Socrates was born about the year 469 BC. He served the Athenian Army in many campaigns of Peloponnesian war. He held the office but later on discontinued for the purpose of participation in the political affairs of the Athens.

• He was courageous, humourous and ironical passionate fond of arguments on political thoughts, morality and human behaviors.
• He was careless of consequences. He  was more interested in  attacking the ideas of others than offering his own constructive philosophical thoughts and ideas.
• He has established the tradition of morality. The  Socrates attacked the basic perceptions of Athenian democracy.  He Was great critic of prevailing customs and state regulations.
• He taught his pupils to practice righteousness, virtue ,truth and morality in all disciplines of social life and state functions.His teachings were considered against the solidarity of city states of Greeks.
• He was charged for corruption and derailing the minds of young Athenian aristocrats disbelieving in gods of city and introducing new doctrines.He was sentenced to death by drinking a cup of poison. 

Teachings of Socrates: 

Socrates got political knowledge from heritage of Sophists. He agreed with them that "Conception of right must be subjected to the scrutiny of individual reasons and not rest upon religion and traditional customs."

• Socrates' method of teaching was not to drive any knowledge from his students but creating a professional group of moral and political leaders representing aristocracy of intellect. He was in favour of wisdom and knowledge. 
• Professor A.E.  Taylor had  eulogized Socrates saying that saying that the tradition holds that man possesses a soul, that the soul is nourished by the moral life and that man's action  accord with the nature of the soul.
• G.H Sabine praises in these words that "Nevertheless it seems certain that more of Socrates' personality and juster inception of his ideas must have gone into the teaching of his greatest pupil, Plato." 

Socrates' view on law and state:

Socrates was a person  who followed law and was a sophisticated citizen of Athen. He believed in the rule of law for justice ,equality, free will and political harmony . His punishment was disdainfully objected bye is pupils. He submitted himself before the court and accepted the decision of court without any complaint and resistance. He potentially asserted that escape is not only alternative to execution. 

Socrates  believed that out of the general mass of laws, rituals and customs, general code of ethics could be prepared to guide and  teach the citizens. He entertained great respect to love. He believed the the law should be reverenced both by the ruler and the ruled. The Socrates view of state was different from Sophists. He believed that it was basically  a written agreement of the citizens regarding the duties obligations and rights conferred by the law. He believed that man was essentially social. He also believe that law and order in any state is as important as justice.