This course offers an in-depth exploration of Socrates, the enigmatic figure at the heart of Western philosophy. Often regarded as the father of moral philosophy, Socrates left no writings of his own, yet his ideas profoundly shaped the intellectual landscape of ancient Greece and beyond. This course aims to reconstruct the historical Socrates by examining a variety of sources, including the early dialogues of his student Plato, the writings of Xenophon, and the plays of Aristophanes, alongside modern scholarly interpretations. We will investigate the philosophical method attributed to Socrates, the nature of Socratic ignorance, and the legacy of Socratic irony. Additionally, the course will aim to understand how Socrates’ life and thought clashed with the democratic society that ultimately condemned him to death.