Socrates at the MoMa, New York

myminifactory

The enigmatic philosopher Socrates remains an inscrutable individual even in death, having left behind no written works yet being considered one of the few philosophers who revolutionized philosophy's very foundations. All information about him is second-hand and often disputed, but his trial and execution by the Athenian democracy has become the defining myth of philosophical academia, with his influence extending far beyond philosophy into every age. Socrates' life serves as a paradigm for the ideal philosophical existence, and he is consequently admired and emulated like a founder of a religious sect - a strange phenomenon given his emphasis on individual thought and his execution on charges of blasphemy against the gods. His presence was undoubtedly impressive, inspiring numerous accounts from others who found him peculiar according to fifth-century Athenian standards: in appearance, personality, behavior, views, and methods alike.