What role did philosophers play in ancient greece

Sometimes in a genuine scientific way, sometimes in mystical ways, but always in an imaginative manner, Greek philosophers approached the big questions of life. Pythagoras considered a charlatan for claiming the doctrine of reincarnation, a half-naked Socrates harassing people on the streets with provocative and unanswerable questions, and Aristotle tutoring great generals: these are examples of how Greek thinkers dared to question traditional conventions and challenge their age's prejudices, sometimes putting their own lives on the line. Greek philosophy began around 600 BCE as an independent cultural genre, and its insights still persist in our times.