The Oracle of Delphi called Socrates "The Wisest Man."
When the Oracle of Delphi called Socrates the wisest man, it was not because he knew the most or had the highest IQ. Socrates thought himself to be a smart man, for sure, but he understood his limits ... Socrates knew he didn’t know everything and was willing to admit it. His humble approach to wisdom set him apart from others, leading to a famous Socratic paradox that influenced philosophy in Ancient Greece and beyond: “I know that I am intelligent because I know that I know nothing.” [Source:
https://www.thecollector.com/why-did-the-oracle-of-delphi-call-socrates-wisest-man/]
Socrates never wrote anything down
Our knowledge of Socrates' (470 BCE - 399 BCE) contribution to the study of philosophy cannot be overstated. Nonetheless, had it not been for Plato, one of his students, we would know little of Socrates. We owe him for taking copious notes and recalling the fundamentals of Socrates' teachings.
Socrates used a public question-and-answer forum to examine personal beliefs. He believed that genuine understanding comes from discussion, not rote memorization. This technique is particularly valuable in law practice, especially when preparing for court cases; of course, it's fundamental to critical thinking skills.
So, why did the wisest man elect to drink hemlock rather than leave Athens?
Historians and scholars give several reasons, including:
Subject to the Law: Socrates was committed to shouldering the responsibilities of citizenship. He had been condemned to death and accepted his sentence.
Philosophical Consistency: Socrates believed in living a virtuous life. Doing anything other than accepting his fate would betray his principles; he was authentic through and through.
Setting an Example: Socrates was a prominent public figure. He had many students, and his influence was felt throughout Greece and beyond. He had a noble spirit and knew how to act.
Gagged & Aging: Although Socrates was aging, he was wiser that the men who ran Athens. He saw through them and they sought to silence him. He accepted, willingly. Why?
He did not fear death. Socrates knew the soul was eternal and immortal.
"In his dialogues, particularly in "Phaedo," Socrates discusses the soul’s immortality, suggesting that death was merely a passage to another existence where a philosopher might gain a fuller knowledge of the truth."[Source:ChatGPT]