Before he was a famous philosopher, Socrates was a celebrated soldier

Socrates was born in 469 BC in Athens during a period when the city had risen to power after the Persian Wars and established itself as the leader of the Delian League.

His father Sophroniscus worked as a stonemason or sculptor, and his mother Phaenarete was a midwife who likely provided a modest income for the household.

The family lived with limited access to wealth, so Socrates probably assisted his father in manual labour and learned the practical skills of stonework as a child. 

Athenian boys were expected to undergo physical and military training as part of their education, and they also received basic instruction in literacy and music.

Socrates therefore grew up in a society that valued both fighting skills and intellectual achievement.

Athens at that time expanded its power through the tribute of its allies, and growing tensions with Sparta meant that young men were prepared for war from adolescence.

The belief that every citizen had an obligation to defend the city became a fundamental part of his upbringing. 

Socrates served in the army because Athenian law required every able-bodied citizen to fight in defence of the city and its allies, and his adulthood coincided with the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War in 431 BC.

The conflict became a prolonged struggle for control in Greece, and Athens depended on its hoplites to fight campaigns far from Attica.

Socrates took up arms as a heavy infantryman. He carried a large shield, helmet, breastplate, greaves, and spear.

He endured long marches and difficult conditions as the army campaigned in foreign territories. 

Military service also provided a path to public honour, since men who displayed courage could gain prestige in a democratic city that valued individual achievement.

Socrates accepted his obligations as a citizen, and he became known for his calm demeanour and reliable endurance under hardship during campaigns.

His presence in the ranks alongside ordinary Athenians demonstrated that he fulfilled the same duties as every other citizen, which later gave strength to his philosophical arguments about equality and virtue. 

Socrates gained respect for his actions in several important battles, and both Plato and Xenophon preserved accounts of his bravery.

At Potidaea, where Athens conducted a long siege from 432 to 429 BC, he endured hunger, cold, and exhaustion with endurance.

Plato described how Socrates protected the wounded Alcibiades and asked generals to award Alcibiades the prize for valour.

His conduct at Potidaea revealed his refusal to leave comrades behind and his ability to remain composed under extreme pressure. 

He again distinguished himself at the Battle of Delium in 424 BC, when the Athenians suffered defeat and retreated in disorder.

Socrates withdrew without panic and supported fellow soldiers during the retreat.

Xenophon recorded that his calm bearing in full armour discouraged enemies from attacking him.

Laches later praised Socrates for his bravery, stating that, if all had behaved as he did, the enemy would not have rejoiced at victory.

He also fought at Amphipolis in 422 BC, where Athens endured another loss in a campaign that ended with a Spartan victory.

Accounts of these campaigns showed that he possessed courage and discipline. 

Socrates drew lessons from his military experiences that influenced the development of his philosophy, since he had seen firsthand how fear, arrogance, and poor judgement could determine the outcome of both individuals and cities.

He believed that moral strength was as important as physical power. He later taught that true wisdom came from recognising one’s ignorance, a belief that may have formed after he saw men perish through overconfidence and folly. 

The habits of self-discipline and endurance that Socrates displayed on campaign continued throughout his life.

He reportedly owned few possessions and ignored wealth and comfort. He debated in the streets of Athens with students and strangers for long hours.

His reputation as a philosopher gained strength because people knew that he had demonstrated bravery and commitment to civic duty in battle.