Socrates’ Daemon

Socrates heard voices. And listened to them.

At his trial Socrates spoke about this internal spirit, his daemon. This voice spoke to him at important junctures. Telling him what to avoid.

"a voice of God is made manifest to me indicating my duty"

Socrates' daemon warned against fleeing or fighting his accusers. That this trial had purpose. His fate was to marry the Truth until death indeed did them part.

"I shall prefer death to begging meanly for longer life and thus gaining a life far less worthy in exchange for death."

And Socrates believed we each have a daemon and should recognise them.

"I assert, that all men use, and this is their belief.

The only difference between them and me is that whereas they call the sources of their forewarning ... 'chance meetings', 'prophets,’ I call mine a ‘divine’ thing;1 and I think that in using such a term I am speaking with more truth and deeper religious feeling".