The Unexamined Life
By definition, to examine means “to look as something closely and carefully in order to learn more about it” (Merriam Webster, n.d.). This would imply that something unexamined is not thoroughly studied or analyzed, resulting in a lack of knowledge on a particular topic. Socrates’s statement in The Apology that the unexamined life is not worth living is testament to his belief that a lack of examination of knowledge is equivalent to a lack of life. Plato uses the example of Socrates’ trial, perpetuated by his thirst for knowledge, to exemplify this topic. Through Socrates’ consistent questioning of Meletus in his own defense, his willingness to die for his pursuit of knowledge, and the parallel of Socrates’ life to that
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Socrates states that men should never concern themselves with living or dying, but whether what they are doing in life is right or wrong. Socrates spent his life coercing answers out of society in pursuit of truth, with the belief that discovering truth was the correct way to live. Socrates did not burden himself with the idea of death, because he believed he was doing the right thing. Furthermore, in The Apology, Socrates expresses that men should remain where they are placed by their commander, and should think about the duty at hand rather than death, even when clenched firmly in danger’s grasp. Socrates’ was consistently victimized for his tendency to ask pestering questions, and he was eventually executed for it. However, Socrates continued to question others until the very end because he saw it as his duty. When Socrates’ stated that the unexamined life was not worth living, he truly meant he would rather live a life in constant pursuit of knowledge while facing persecution and the awareness of his imminent death than to be an ignorant fool and live a lengthy, peaceful …show more content…
Jesus, like Socrates, spent his life questioning authority figures, but rather with inquires of faith than of Socrates’ search for logic. In addition, Jesus and Socrates were both sentenced to death for interrogating those in their respective societies and therefore, corrupting the youth. According to 1 Peter 2:22, “[Jesus] committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth” (NIV, n.d.). If Jesus constantly questioned people and never committed a sin, this would make his way of thinking and his actions correct. This would confirm that an examined life is, in fact, something worth dying for. Since Socrates’ way of behavior was aligned similarly with Jesus, this would make his philosophy of mental stimulation and interrogation without fault. Socrates’ refusal to live an unexamined life and his desire to inspect the lives of others is a Biblical concept, also mirrored in the teachings of
Socrates put one’s quest for wisdom and the instruction of others above everything else in life. A simple man both in the way he talked and the wealth he owned, he believed that simplicity in whatever one did was the best way of acquiring knowledge and passing it unto others. He is famous for saying that “the unexplained life is not worth living.” He endeavored therefore to break down the arguments of those who talked with a flowery language and boasted of being experts in given subjects (Rhees 30). His aim was to show that the person making a claim on wisdom and knowledge was in fact a confused one whose clarity about a given subject was far from what they claimed. Socrates, in all his simplicity never advanced any theories of his own but rather aimed at bringing out the worst in his interlocutors.
Socrates once said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” He questioned the very nature of why things were the way they were, while never settling for simple, mundane answers. Socrates would rather die searching for the truth than live accepting what he considered a blatant lie. I like to think of myself the same way. I too would rather examine the wonders of life rather than accept what I am just told. The truth is some can’t handle the truth. I on the other hand welcome it with earnest anticipation and fervent enthusiasm.
According to Pierre Hadot, “Thus philosophy was a way of life, both in its exercise and effort to achieve wisdom, and its goal, wisdom itself. For real wisdom does not merely cause us to know: it makes us “be” in a different way” ( Pierre 265) This explanation of a philosophical way of life is in all ways the definition of Socrates’ life. Socrates made his way through his entire life living in this way, seeking out wisdom, seeking out answers and never once got in trouble with the court until the age of seventy years old. He believed that by telling people about ignorance and wisdom, that he was only doing so for the good of the people. Socrates even goes as far as saying, “I am that Gadfly which God has attached to the state, and all day long and in all places am always fastening upon you, arousing and persuading and reproaching you”(Plato 9). Socrates believes that he was sent from God to show people a different way of life, a life of questioning and reason to which he should teach to all people. When asked if he was ashamed of a course of life of which would likely bring him to an untimely end Socrates says, “you are mistaken: a man who is good for anything ought not to calculate the chance of living or dying; he ought only to consider whether in doing anything he is doing right or wrong” (Plato 7).
When he is questioned why he doesn’t want to attempt to escape his death, he states that he feels it is unjust to escape. Socrates did what he believed his job was, which was to enlighten the youth to the unjust ways of society. While the way he was punished for it was unjust, Socrates stated that he has lived a happy life, and if he can’t rightly persuade the Laws of Athens to change its mind and let him go, then he can accept that.
Socrates was wise men, who question everything, he was found to be the wise man in Athens by the oracle. Although he was consider of being the wises man alive in those days, Socrates never consider himself wise, therefore he question everything in order to learned more. Socrates lived a poor life, he used to go to the markets and preach in Athens he never harm anyone, or disobey any of the laws in Athens, yet he was found guilty of all charges and sentence to die.
He talks about being safe from the prospect of dying tomorrow in all human probability and not likely to have his judgment upset by this impending. Socrates answers first that one should not worry about public opinion, but only listen to wise and expert advice. He thinks that she should not regard all the opinions that people hold. One should regard the good
I totally agree that Socrates found it important to research about life’s morality and not just think the same way others do. That is a way of proving the knowledge of men. Ones sitting quiet in the corner usually have more knowledge than others that talk so much about what they know. Many men with a high position in life do not always have the most knowledge.
In his defense, Socrates claims over and again that he is innocent and is not at all wise, “…for I know that I have no wisdom, small or great.” Throughout the rest of his oration he seems to act the opposite as if he is better than every man, and later he even claims that, “At any rate, the world has decided that Socrates is in some way superior to other men.” This seems to be his greatest mistake, claiming to be greater than even the jury.
Another reason Socrates did not escape prison was his obligation to his city. Again, this ties to Socrates need for consistency, when manhood is reached in the city of Athens the citizens comply with the laws of Athens, and if they do not they are to leave the city. So, given this, Socrates must assent to the laws of Athens because he agreed they were just, whether he was wrongly accused or not. Socrates also towards the end of his life becomes certain of the afterlife, that it either must end in eternal sleep or you pass into a spiritual Transcension. Given the dilemma of a planned death, Socrates is given the opportunity to die a good person knowing he has committed no wrong, which is likely why he is content at the end of his life.
Socrates focuses his philosophy on life entirely on the discovery of knowledge and wisdom, ethics, and the soul. He was obsessed with seeking of knowledge and wisdom: he believed that they are the key to a good life. He went on to state that, “an unexamined life, is a life not worth living.” According to him, knowledge and wisdom correlate to ethical actions, ultimately resulting in a life of happiness, by
He is saying that if we fear death or to live our life a certain way then we won’t accomplish anything. If we wake up everyday, and we are scared of not getting into our dream job, then we are not going to even try to do what it takes to get that job. Socrates states” Wherever a man has taken up a position because he considers it best, or has been posted there by his commander, that is where I believe he should remain, steadfast in danger, taking no account all of death or of anything else rather than dishonor.” Socrates is trying to show if we examine that what we think something is the best option in life then we need to take that course of action, even in cases where we risk dying or getting hurt it doesn’t matter. We should be living a life without fear of dying because if we didn’t we wouldn’t be living our life to the fullest. When we live our life to the fullest that means that we will have no regrets about the things we do while we are live. Socrates comes to accept this when he tells that truth in court instead of getting sympathy from the jurors. Socrates states “I have no regrets about defending myself as I did; I should far present a defence and die, than live by defending myself in that other fashion”. Even if we are scared about our future, we shouldn’t stop living our
Socrates is correct when he says the “the unexamined life is not worth living” In order to discuss why Socrates is correct, I would like to discuss these various points which consist of: the significance as well as the underlying meaning of his quote “the unexamined life is not worth living”, the difference between an unexamined life and an examined life, specific examples, the importance of a person living an examined life and lastly, whether or not I’m living an examined life.
“The unexamined life is not worth living,” this is a very famous quote by Socrates, and it means that if you are not examining your life and asking questions about the life of yourself and others than you should not be living at all. Socrates was willing to go up to complete strangers and ask them why they were living their life a certain way (De Botton). Asking questions and the use of dialogue was the primary way that Socrates gained knowledge and exposed the ignorance of others. This idea can be seen throughout Alcibiades, when Socrates uses his ...
Socrates was an insightful philosopher who had an opinion on all the basic fundamental questions. He had very strong beliefs that he willed others into believing through questioning and proving ignorance in others beliefs. He has particular views on every fundamental question and particular views on how people should live their lives. He says God has spoken to him about philosophy and says that it is his destiny and it is his calling in life. Through philosophy he searches for answers to the fundamental questions and gains wisdom and knowledge. The fundamental question of condition is the question of what, if anything, has gone wrong with the world? The question of solution is what can fix the problem? Then there is Death which asks what happens
Socrates was a wise man who realized that life was not something that could be easily understood. He knew that questioning life would lead to a stronger conception of life and reality. When he stated that “the unexamined life is not worth living” (Plato 45), he truly meant that without questioning life, one would not be truly living. Actions would have no understanding of being right or wrong. For Socrates, a man who believed that life should be based on what was right, there would be no greater wrongdoing.