Socrates was an ancient Greek philosopher who taught by asking questions instead of giving answers, a method still used in classrooms today and known as the Socratic method. Before turning to philosophy full-time, he served as a soldier for Athens in the Peloponnesian War and was noted for his bravery in battle. He never wrote anything down himself — he is known through his students, especially Plato. He believed that questioning your own ideas is the beginning of real wisdom.