Simon the Shoemaker

Who is Simon the Shoemaker?

Simon the Shoemaker was an associate of the Athenian philosopher Socrates in the late 5th century BCE. He is known mostly from the account given in Diogenes Laërtius' Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers. He is also mentioned in passing by Plutarch and Synesius; and another pupil of Socrates, Phaedo of Elis, is known to have written a dialogue called Simon.

Socrates was accustomed to visit Simon's shop, and converse with him on various subjects. These conversations Simon afterwards committed to writing, as far as he could remember them; and it was said by some that he was the first person to write Socratic dialogues. His writings attracted the notice of Pericles, who offered to provide for his maintenance, if he would come and reside with him; but Simon refused, on the grounds that he did not wish to surrender his independence. Diogenes Laërtius lists thirty-three conversations which were contained in one volume.

Some scholars have suggested that Simon was a purely fictional figure, perhaps invented by Phaedo of Elis for his dialogue Simon.