In Plato’s The Apology, Socrates argues that accepting society the way it is and not questioning it is something that he is incapable of doing. Socrates believes that “the unexamined life isn’t worth living” (39) because it doesn’t allow for the people to think critically about the world they live in. What does Socrates mean when he says “the unexamined life” (39)? The unexamined life seems to be living your life without questioning and thinking critically about the various aspects of the society that we live in. Given that is what we believe the unexamined life is, the examined life would be very similar to the life that Socrates lives. This would be life of critical thinking and deep questioning of all the aspects of your life, making sure Failure to think critically and question things that are given to us can lead to a stagnant society due to a lack of both innovation and new ideas that change our perspectives. It is extremely important to examine our own lives because we may catch ourselves blindly following or accepting thing in our life. We examine our lives to find out about ourselves and become better at the many different parts of our lives. Examination of our lives can not only lead to new, revolutionary ideas being formed but can also help transform what is believed to be fact into falsehood. For example, when Leonardo Fibonacci questioned why one was the first value and why there wasn’t a value assigned to nothing, the world of mathematics was revolutionized. Many parts of modern mathematics are founded on basic principles that were created after the adoption of zero into the number system. Another example is when Copernicus questioned why the earth had to be the center of our universe and why it couldn’t be the sun, he revolutionized science as we know it. He changed the way that we think about our universe and astronomy as a whole. Both of these men questioned one seemingly tiny aspect of their lives because they weren’t sure if it was totally true, and they revolutionized their field due to
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.
Plato’s “Defense of Socrates” follows the trial of Socrates for charges of corruption of the youth. His accuser, Meletus, claims he is doing so by teaching the youth of Athens of a separate spirituality from that which was widely accepted.
Many readers have their own opinion on whether Socrates accepted his death foolishly or reasonably. This writer’s essay expressed much sympathy and admiration on how Socrates accepted his fate. However, the writer’s argument lacks strong reasons as to why one might consider Socrates’ decision a wise one. We will analyze the writer’s key arguments and determine if they show strong evidence in to persuading the reader of Socrates’ decision to accept his fate. Nevertheless, the writer provides some good points as to Socrates’ good morals. But, fails to convince on specific arguments on whether Socrates decision was wise or foolish.
So is it worth living an examined life? Socrates had made this statement long after the creation of the Theban Trilogy. In the context of his own time, this was meant to imply that life must be examined and reflected upon, known and discovered by each individual philosopher to better enrich life for all. Yet in terms of Sophoclean drama, specifically Oedipus Rex, this was meant in a vastly different way. The unexamined life was one that was in the dark, unknown as to what fate lied beyond every turn and irony of living.
The Defense of Socrates begins with Socrates stating he does not know if his fellow Athenians, his jury, have been persuaded by his accusers. This is a crucial statement because Socrates explains how of the many false claims that his accusers have made, one particularly can be proven as untrue. His accusers have sent out a warning that Socrates is a “clever” speaker and he clarifies that he would admit that he is an orator if a “clever speaker” is one who speaks the truth. (17b) He states that although he has no experience with the court of law, he will speak the truth. He stated that “You shall hear my points made spontaneously in whatever words occur to me--persuaded as I am that my case is just…because it would not be at all fitting at my age, gentleman, to come before you with artificial speeches.” (17c) In return for his promise, Socrates requests that it would only be fair to disregard his manner of speaking and only focus on whether his actions were just.
Socrates is accused of impiety and for corrupting the lives of youths through his interactions with them and his teachings. Socrates defends his position on all charges believing he is doing just cause and in doing so is steadfastly abiding by his moral standards. Socrates believes that what matters is life and living it well. Socrates believes he should be rewarded rather than punished for his beliefs. He thinks he should be given free meals in the Prytaneum, where the Olympic athletes are celebrating or to pay a small sum of money which his friends raise to three times what Socrates proposes. In the end, Socrates accepts the judgment bestowed on him by the courts, the sentence of death. He accepts this verdict because he believes it is morally just to abide by the decision handed down by the state.
In the last days of Socrates’ life while he awaits his death sentence, he examines and evaluates the facets of life and the morals that come as a part of human nature. He analyzes the concept of being, and what it means to be either living or deceased and through this analysis, Socrates particularly goes in depth with his examination of the human soul. In Phaedo, Plato meets with a follower who had been with Socrates on his last day, on which he talked much about the innermost qualities of being; life and death and how the soul constitutes those two entities. According to Socrates, there are four arguments that prove the existence of the soul: the Argument from Opposites, the Theory of Recollection, the Affinity Argument, and the Theory of Forms.
Around the fourth century BCE, philosophy in Ancient Greece arose rapidly. This early form was speculative, so it was based entirely off the reasoning process without any factuality involved. While the Hellenistic Era approached, philosophy was taken to a whole new level. During Greece’s Golden Age, Socrates emerged expanding on these basic beliefs by using his inquisitive mind. Although Socrates’ ideology set the basis for western thought, his dedication to his beliefs brought him about as a polarizing figure in Athens.
Philosophy Assignment 1a During Plato’s writing of Phaedo, the readers can learn about Socrates ideas of knowledge and how one obtains knowledge of different things. Socrates believes that the true forms of knowledge is not through the experiences that one lives throughout life, but a recollection of things that already exist in the human soul. He sets forth this notion by saying, “Learning is no other than recollection. According to this, we must at some previous time have learned what we now recollect.
Plato quotes Socrates when he says “ the life unexamined is the life not worth living,” (page 526) this quote allows readers to look at life from a new perspective. His whole life Socrates is focused on figuring out what people know and what they don’t know. He also asks himself these questions. When he says that “the life unexamined is the life not worth living” he means to say that people who don’t ask questions don’t understand the meaning of life. This
After having heard the guilty verdict of his trial, Socrates hypothetically entertains a question that he suspects many in the courtroom would want to know. He asks “But Socrates, if you leave us, will you not be able to live quietly, without talking?” (Grube 39). He immediately rejects this idea, explaining that he believes the “unexamined life is not for man worth living” (Grube 39). This sentiment, and Socrates’ philosophy in general, have had a huge influence on western philosophy. Still, what is meant by this statement remains up to interpretation and, even with an agreement about what it means, the statement remains controversial. I aim to tackle both issues: I hope to interpret and define what Socrates meant by the statement and to
This paper will argue that during “The trial and Death of Socrates”, Socrates could have given better arguments for his defense. First it will outline the prejudices or accusations Socrates has to face during his trial. It will then show how Socrates acted as tough he wanted to lose the case and finally it will conclude explaining the arguments Socrates could have given in order to be acquitted.
With this said, Socrates submits an alternative explanation on why some people seem to dislike him. He revealed that he possessed a unique wisdom, and because of it, people around him seem to always get frustrated and angry. He calls out as a witness the God at Delphi to attest to the fact of such wisdom, the Oracle of Delphi has told a certain witness (Chaerephon who is dead) when he ventured out to Delphi, he asked if any man was wiser than Socrates and the Pythian replied by saying that no one was wiser. Knowing this, Socrates decided to go around asking people, question, trying to find someone smarter than him, for he knew that he knew nothing. He targeted people of higher standards (poets, artisans, politicians, business men, etc.) who might know something, subsequently he tested their wisdom looking for answers to see if they knew anything of value. Hence, all he found was people who believed they were wise because of their knowledge of what they do for a
Each one of us has been accused of some kind of act at some point in our lives. Yet those accusations have been terribly mistaken and sometimes there is so little that a person can do to fix that. In this case we are talking about the wonderful philosophist Socrates, a person of many beliefs and ideas. He was a man who dearly believed in justice and doing justice to others. We will examine Socrates' way of thinking and his rationality towards a healthy and logical mind. After reading the Meno, Apology, and Crito I have come to a conclusion that Socrates made the right decision by rejecting Crito's offer of escape and the reasoning behind that will be explained by providing parts of the dialogues and the ideas behind them.
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.