The famous Greek philosopher Socrates (470-399 BC) lived poor and needless in Athens (" When I walk through the marketplace, I see so many things I don't need"). He became the idol of young Athenians, but aroused the envy and ill-will of the powerful. He called his method or art of conversing to lead fellow men to perplexity and knowledge of their not-knowing - " I know that I do not know" - maeeutics (midwifery knowledge), alluding to his mother's profession. The saying is often mistakenly mentioned in many sources as "I know that I know nothing" (instead of "not", therefore, "nothing"), which sounds insignificant but has a different meaning after all.
The basic assumption of meeutics is that the truth lies in the innate reason of every human being and only needs to be "delivered" (brought to light). For alleged impiety and corrupting influence on youth, he was found guilty by a narrow majority (281 out of 501 votes) and, after another vote, sentenced to death by drinking a cup of hemlock (suicide). He left nothing in writing, but his pupils Aristophanes, Plato and Xenophon wrote down his teachings, which also dealt with the consumption of wine. The painting by Anselm Feuerbach shows a scene from the famous work "Symposion" by Plato (428/427-348/347 BC) with the participants Aristophanes (450-380 BC) and Socrates.
Socrates wrote: "Wine moistens and tempers the mind and lulls the cares of the mind to sleep. It enlivens our pleasures and is oil on the dying flame of life. If we drink moderately and in small draughts, the wine passes into our lungs like sweetest morning dew. Then wine commits no robbery of our reason, but invites us to friendly cheerfulness." But he also warned against overindulgence with the following words: " Yes, drinking, that also pleases me. It seems to me that men's carousing is like the sowing of seeds in the field. For even these, if God gives them too much to drink, can no longer stand up straight. But if they drink as much as suits them, then they grow up straight and blossom and come to maturity. See also Ancient Wines, Ancient Grape Varieties, Symposion and Drinking Culture.
Symposion: Deur Anselm Feuerbach - Google Art Project, Publieke domein, Skakel
Amphora: By Andokides Painter - Public domain, Link
Socrates: By Domenico Anderson, Museo Nazionale, Public domain, Link
Death of Socrates: By Jacques-Louis David - Metmuseum, Public domain, Link
