The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living Essay

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

Close analysis of the Athenian society surrounding Socrates reveals that he was very much a black sheep. He devoted much of his time to experiments that were then deemed acts of impiety. The Apology divulges Plato’s perception of Socrates’ defense when he was put on trial in 399 B.C. Socrates’ stubborn refusal to conform is highlighted in the piece alongside the common idea among philosophers at the time that “examining” oneself and one’s peers is what makes a life worthwhile. I agree with the idea that examination of human morality is vital to living a fulfilled life, because without virtue or goodness, there is no worth in life.

Socrates’ reasoning for not fleeing from death had to do with his concern for his friends being punished for helping him escape, and also because of the fact that doing so would violate his teachings. Socrates’ concern for his friends being punished can be found on page 47 where Crito asks Socrates’- “…Are you anticipating that I and your other friends would have trouble with the informers if you escape from here, as having stolen you away, and that we should be compelled to lose all our property or pay heavy fines and suffer other punishment besides? (47).” Socrates replies to him that he does have these things in mind as he does many other others (47). However, this is not the main reason for why Socrates’ does not choose to flee with his

Sadly, we know of Socrates’ fate and with him trying to change Athens for the better it backfires on him. But, Socrates leaves those who attended his trial his with some final words that speak to who he is and how he felt about what he was doing regarding his philosophy. “If, I say, now, when, as I conceive and imagine, God orders me to fulfil the philosopher's mission of searching into myself and other men, I were to desert my post through fear of death, or any other fear; that would indeed be strange, and I might justly be arraigned in court for denying the existence of the gods, if I disobeyed the oracle because I was afraid of death: then I should be fancying that I was wise when I was not wise. For this fear of death is indeed the pretence of wisdom, and not real wisdom, being the appearance of knowing the unknown; since no one knows whether death, which they in their fear apprehend to be the greatest evil, may not be the greatest good” (Apology, Plato).

Ultimately, when making decisions and understanding your place in life and its situations, people really are not derived by normality and regularities, but they are shaped or modified through having a sense of profound self-confidence and searching for fulfillment. The foundation to rationalize and reason is inherently embedded in people. Socrates supported that people have the capability to put together constructive concepts or opinions if they exercised that behavioral reflect. Socrates sort out by having the ability to listen and ask questions, it is the root for happiness and salvation because it permits the formation of accepting oneself and acknowledges a person’s position in society and what their phenomenon remains in the environment

When Socrates is interviewed by his friends he expresses no regret or fear for his life. Socrates distinguishes himself from the average person, because he coins himself a philosopher. The philosopher welcomes the idea of death as a concept for expanding the mind. The average person fears death because they only understand their physical entity “We fear for what we don’t understand”. Compared to the average person, who seeks to only expand their wealth and stomach, Socrates openly states “The philosopher despises anything with the body except the soul, therefore asks for death” (TDS, p. 62).

“An unexamined life is not worth living,” these words spoken from ancient times from a Greek philosopher and his name was Socrates. Socrates set unlikable thinking for many people of his time by questioning what is life, and almost everything else about the human experience,as he believed the only way to achieve the truth is by asking the simple yet impossible questions.

Greek philosophers wanted to question, to challenge their prejudices, even if their lives were in danger. Socrates enjoyed teaching, but he didn't want anything in return. Socrates main thought had been the real world and how to explain it. “However, Socrates set in motion a new approach by focusing entirely on moral and psychological questions.”(2) For asking more and more questions, he was sometimes trailed for death.

Recognized as one of the most powerful and influential philosophers of all time, Socrates was a well-known figure for his historical actions, especially sacrificing his own life for the sake of the truth, a justice and one’s reputation. This famous history of life and death of a mysterious philosopher day by day attracts more and more attention. For Socrates, commitment to justice and truth and having a clean and an endless reputation were the matters of life and death. He would therefore be ready to stand by the same truth and sacrifice his life for the reputation – for as long as the positions regarding to it remained unchanged – even if he were to die a thousand deaths. Therefore Socrates option to die is the most accurate choice and truth,

Introspection and the purposeful analysis of our past actions are some of the most valuable tools possessed by those who are looking to shape and improve their character. While Socrates used this statement to express his attitude towards death and exile, it can be analyzed and understood in a modern context under much less dire circumstances in order to help an individual looking for personal reform.

Socrates is a brilliant philosopher whose life and teachings are still being used and studied in the modern world today. One of his famous statements is in the Plato’s Apology, “The unexamined life is not worth living” (Plato, trans. 1871). This statement has created plenty of discussions and confusions since nobody really knows what does Socrates truly mean when saying this. Therefore, it is viewed differently by each personal interpretation where ideas and opinion would come to influence; some would agree or disagree that is explained by their logic and reasons. This essay is going to analyze deeply what Socrates truly means when saying “The unexamined life is not worth living” (Plato, trans. 1871).

Socrates was born (469-399 B.C.E) in Athens, Greece. By today if anyone has heard or learn about philosophy, we acknowledge his life through the writing from his student Plato. Socrates was so interested in his philosophizing that he would engage in anyone in a conversation about "higher thing". His Wife Often gets annoying because it turns simple trips to the store longer. Socrates is accused of corrupting the youth, introduced new divinities on his own and also does not believe in God when he was put on trial. During his time in the trial, he stated that, “the unexamined life is not worth living” the quote which many people still considered to be an unanswer question. At this point, why does Socrates still believe the examined life is more meaningful than the unexamined life even when being sentenced to death. In my opinion, I agree with Socrates theory because there is a meaning to my life and with today generation everyone has their path of life and is up to them to choose rather to examine it or follow the path being pass down from their ancestor.

Socrates was an Athens, Greece born man, who is credited as one of the main founders of Western Philosophy. Socrates never wrote any of his thoughts and experiences down, so we just know and analyze Socrates through the dialogues of his greatest apostle, Plato. Although, the dialogues written by Plato are not totally focused on summarizing Socrates’ life, but more about his teachings and examining of others, you never really learn how Socrates lived in an everyday life. He appeared to be a very simple man, with not many possessions or riches to his name. Socrates never did participate in political reform in Greece, but rather choose to converse with every day Athenians to analyze and instruct them about virtue and examination. He based his life off the simplicity of understanding virtues and the search for wisdom. His quest for wisdom and the instruction of others through dialogue seem to be Socrates’ most important aim in life. His questioning and examining ended up getting him in trouble, as explained through “The Apology,” Socrates was brought in front of a jury with charges of not recognizing the gods recognized by the state, of inventing new deities, and of corrupting the youth of Athens. The case ended with him being charged as guilty, and instead of accepting exile for this rest of his life; he chose death by drinking hemlock poison. In “The Apology,” Socrates claims “the unexamined life is not worth living

Yes, I do agree with Socrates that an unexamined life is not worth living because if you continuously go through your life not taking in what you’ve been doing, you’re wasting your time. The fact that you can live your life and not really question anything or take a grander look at it essentially means no purpose. Philosophical examination makes life better because it forces you to express your thoughts more thoroughly and pushes you to argue any case more. You put in a deeper thought into things rather than getting the simplistic answer and moving forward with it.

An understanding of Socrates' philosophy is found in how he determines it is better to die than live under restrictions and accept the will of what he believes is a wrong society (5). In saying that he would rather die than live the unexamined life Socrates is stating that he would rather be dead, than live a life without the ability to question his surroundings. The main question that arrives out of this statement is if this is something that was said before he knew he had the potential