Socrates and the Oracle
Socrates and the Oracle
For Mr. Wright’s 6th Grade Class
Paradise Valley School
Paradise Valley School

Traits
• Physically: big, strong,
Socrates (469‐399 BC)
tough, not real handsome
• In the military: Fought in
three wars, recognized for
valor
• Legends: Went barefoot
Legends: Went barefoot
into battle; Once stood
motionless for 24 hours
ot o ess o ou s
“just to think”

Teaching activity

Teaching
Socrates walked the
streets and taught the
tt d t ht th
youth of Athens

What his wife Xantippe
What his wife Xantippe
thought of all this….
thunder rain
“After thunder, rain
“After
may be expected”

Influence on the youth of Athens
Socrates pulling Alcibiades (Athen’s “most
eligible bachelor”) away from his revelry
li ibl b h l ”) f hi l

Position on classical Greek religion
Socrates did not take at face value the
myths of gods and goddesses
hfd d dd

The site of Delphi

Delphi “restored”

Oracle at Delphi
•Pythia, the priestess
of Delphi, was
f D l hi
available one day per
month for people to
ask questions
•Lines were so long, it
would take all day
would take all day
•What are those
vapors she’s
breathing? Who
knows!

Warriors Consulting Pythia
You wouldn’t dare to open a taco stand
(okay, gyros stand) without asking Pythia
(k d) i h ki P hi

Can you believe what
she said about Socrates?
h db
“Socrates is the wisest of mortals.”

Socrates reaction (initially)
Socrates’ reaction (initially)

Setting out to prove her
Setting out to prove her
wrong
•Goes to all the
“experts” in Athens
“ t ” i Ath
•One by one, argues
te
them into submission
to sub ss o
•Did not win a lot of
friends this way

Trial
Charges:
•Corrupting the youth
•Teaching false
religion
What!?!?

What this trial is really
What this trial is really about
Slave boy
How dare Socrates imply that everyone can have wisdom – even slaves!!!

Death sentence: But wait… there’s a chance to escape!
Socrates’ friends try to argue him into
escaping
i

Resigned to his fate
•The famous
“persuade or obey”
“ d b”
speech
Soc ates d st e
•Socrates drinks the
hemlock:

Direct Teaching Lineage
Direct Teaching Lineage
Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
Alexander