5th century BC
Athens at its peak — and the first verdict against free thought
What happened — and why
The Greco-Persian Wars. Pericles. The flowering of Athens
Marathon (490), Thermopylae, Salamis. Athens prevails and builds the Parthenon. Pericles creates the first democracy.
The philosophical cause
Socrates — The freedom of the polis gives birth to freedom of thought. It is here that Socrates becomes possible.
But that same democracy, in 399 BC, will vote to execute Socrates — for asking uncomfortable questions.
The execution of Socrates (399 BC)
Socrates is condemned to death for "corrupting the youth" and "impiety toward the gods." He drinks the poison.
The philosophical cause
Plato — He never stopped asking: "What is justice? What is virtue?" — even when it was dangerous.
Plato was at the trial. The shock made him a philosopher. All of Western philosophy is a response to the death of Socrates.
