Philosophy- An attempt to come to a systematic understanding of the world through the use of reason. Literally philosophy means "The love of wisdom (learning).

Pre-Socratic philosophers were also known as natural philosophers. They were the first "scientists" who paved the way for true philosophy.

Mythos-Using the gods to explain about the nature of the world.
Logos-Using applied reason to explain about the nature of the world.

Sophists- Teachers of argument, rhetoric, law, and political maneuvering for a fee. Many sophists were relativists. Sophists had a negative reputation.

When Socrates was put on trial in Athens he had four charges against him. These charges and Socrates apology or defense against the charges were recorded in the dialogs of Plato, Socrates' prized pupil. The charges and defenses are as follows.

1. Socrates is charged of being a natural philosopher and both irreligious and an atheist. Socrates replies that natural philosophy just isn't his style.

2. Socrates is accused of being a sophist, to which Socrates claims that it cannot be so since he has never charged for his teachings.

3. Socrates is accused of corrupting the youth for targeting officials to ask questions of them and causing them to look like fools. One of Socrates' students was so impressed that he went to the oracle at Delphi and asked the oracle if Socrates was the wisest man. The oracle replied in the affirmative and this is reported to Socrates who then sets out to prove it wrong. After some searching Socrates is forced to admit that he may be the wisest man, but that his wisdom stems in the fact that he knows he knows nothing.

4. The fourth and final charge against Socrates is that he is a religious heretic, meaning that he holds religious beliefs not in keeping with the beliefs of the state and population. Socrates wonders how he can be both an atheist as in charge #1 and a religious heretic. Either he believes in the gods or he doesn't.

At the end of the trial both Socrates and the prosecution give to the jury a suggestion for the sentence if Socrates is found guilty. Socrates says his punishment should be to be supported such as an athletic hero for the remainder of his days. The prosecution suggests death. Some friends of Socrates intervene with him and he changes his proposal to a small fine. After a second intervention Socrates changes his proposal again to a medium fine.
The jury finds Socrates guilty and sentence him to death either by a firing squad of archers, or by poison of hemlock. Socrates chooses to die by hemlock. One of Socrates' last quotes is "the unexamined life is not worth living."