The philosophies of Socrates

Socrates

In the Athenian days of the fifth century
Socrates' questioning influenced Western philosophy
Through the use of critical reasoning
Socrates influenced peoples way of thinking
People believed knowledge was gained by one-upmanship
But Socrates didn't believe this, he questioned it
And it was from this simple act of defiance
That Socrates was able to form an alliance
With the greatest thinkers of those days
Such as Plato, Xenophon and Alcibiades
He made them reconsider everything
With his parallel ways of questioning
Is the pious loved by the gods because it pious
Or is it pious because it is loved by the gods?
He believed everyone's opinions varied, even the Gods

The death of Socrates

Leaving no work of his own he starred in Plato's dialogues
The Socratic method leads to greater knowledge and piety
But alas the magistrates did not agree
Aged 70 Socrates was charged with corruption
Influencing the youth and religious disruption
He was sentenced to death by the poison hemlock
Leaving friends, family and students in a state of shock
We learn not to regard anything too great or small
If we break it down and question it all