The ancient philosopher known for his Socratic method of questioning was Socrates himself. Living in ancient Athens during the 5th century BCE, Socrates is renowned for his contributions to ethics and epistemology. Through engaging dialogues, often with the youth of Athens, he posed probing questions designed to stimulate critical thinking and illuminate ideas concerning virtue, justice, and morality. His method encouraged examining beliefs and assumptions through a dialectical process, laying the groundwork for Western philosophy. Socratic questioning remains a valuable technique in education and discourse, fostering inquiry and reflection in various fields even today.