Socrates was an influential ancient Greek philosopher who lived in Athens in the 5th century BCE. He did not write anything himself, but is known through the works of his students Plato and Xenophon. Socrates believed that the unexamined life is not worth living, and used questioning and logical arguments to expose inconsistencies in people's beliefs. He was tried and convicted for corrupting the youth of Athens and impiety, and sentenced to death by drinking hemlock poison. His trial and execution had a profound impact and established him as one of the founders of Western philosophy.