# Socrates — The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers character guide > Socrates in The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers by Diogenes Laërtius. **Role:** major **First appearance:** 0020-socrates ## Snapshot The barefoot Athenian who questioned everyone, wrote nothing, and became the hinge on which all later Greek philosophy turns. ## Who they are Socrates dominates the middle books as the teacher whose pupils founded rival schools — Plato, Antisthenes, Aristippus, Euclid — each claiming his legacy. Diogenes Laërtius shows him as both the most delightful of conversationalists and the most exasperating, praised by Theopompus and mocked by Aristophanes for his strut and threadbare cloak. His refusal to write, and his death, force every subsequent philosopher to define virtue, knowledge, and the good life in his shadow. ## Relationships ### [Plato](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters/plato) _professional_ Plato was Socrates' most famous student, recording his teachings and philosophy. ### [Metrocles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters/metrocles) _social_ Metrocles was a Cynic philosopher influenced by Socratic ideas, though not a direct student. ### [Xenophon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters/xenophon) _professional_ Xenophon was a student and historian who recorded Socrates' dialogues and military exploits. ### [Xenophon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters/xenophon) _professional_ Xenophon was a student and historian who recorded Socrates' dialogues and military exploits. ### [Metrocles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters/metrocles) _social_ Metrocles was a Cynic philosopher influenced by Socratic ideas, though not a direct student. ### [Metrocles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters/metrocles) _social_ Metrocles was a Cynic philosopher influenced by Socratic ideas, though not a direct student. ## In the story ### [The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/the-lives-and-opinions-of-eminent-philosophers) Central figure in Greek philosophy, known for his dialectical method and moral philosophy. ### [Book I: The Origins and Divisions of Philosophy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/book-i) Socrates is mentioned as one of the philosophers who wrote nothing, according to some sources. ### [Book II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/book-ii) Son of Sophroniscus and Phaenarete; pupil of Anaxagoras and Archelaus; first to converse about human life; condemned to death. ### [Archelaus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/archelaus) Mentioned as a pupil of Archelaus who borrowed from and expanded his principles. ### [Socrates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/socrates) Main subject of the chapter; his life, teachings, trial, and death are described. ### [Xenophon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/xenophon) Xenophon's mentor who guided him to philosophy and advised him regarding Cyrus. ### [Aeschines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/aeschines) Praised Aeschines as the only one who knows how to pay proper respect; advised him to borrow from himself in poverty. ### [Aristippus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/aristippus) Aristippus's teacher, who rejected the money Aristippus sent him and is referenced in Xenophon's attack on pleasure. ### [Phaedo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/phaedo) Socrates arranged for Phaedo's ransom, instructing Alcibiades or Crito to pay for his freedom. ### [Euclides](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/euclides) His death prompted Plato and others to seek refuge with Euclides. ### [Crito](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/crito) The philosopher to whom Crito was devoted and whose pupils included Crito's sons. ### [Simon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/simon) Philosopher whose conversations in Simon's workshop were recorded. ### [Plato](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/plato) Referenced in the context of hemlock and as Plato's teacher. ### [Book VI: The Cynics and the Rise of Stoicism](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/book-vi) Teacher of Antisthenes; praised by Antisthenes as the source of strength for virtue; his moral philosophy was compared to Antisthenes' teachings. ### [Antisthenes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/antisthenes) Antisthenes' teacher, from whom he learned endurance and indifference to external circumstances. ### [Democritus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/democritus) Democritus is said to have met Socrates in Athens without being recognized. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/endnotes) Used as an example in a Stoic grammatical explanation. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters/socrates - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters