The ancient civilization known for its philosopher Socrates is Ancient Greece. Socrates, who lived from approximately 470 to 399 BCE, is often regarded as one of the founders of Western philosophy and is best known for his Socratic method—a form of cooperative argumentative dialogue that stimulates critical thinking and illuminates ideas. His teachings emphasized ethics and moral philosophy, focusing on the importance of self-knowledge. Although Socrates wrote no philosophical texts himself, his ideas were passed down through his students, notably Plato and Xenophon, greatly influencing later philosophical thought. Socrates remains a central figure in discussions about virtue, knowledge, and the examined life.