The Unexamined Life
Z Smith
Philosophy,
Sept. 18, 2014
The Unexamined Life
When calling into question Socrates’ idea of an “unexamined life”, one must understand exactly what the purpose of examination is. In most cases, examination is used to help make decisions or judgements based on certain standards, beliefs, values, etc., which are then reflected back upon to make sure that the subject of examination is in-fact living up to these ideals. Therefore, in terms of Socrates’ view, an “unexamined life” is one that is unjudged or unreflected through a critical perspective. It seems he felt this was an important thing to do in order to justify that one’s life is being lived the way it is meant to be lived; the life is being lived up to virtuous standards, and must constantly be examined to ensure that a virtuous life is being lived. Socrates would further say that you should be endlessly working towards improving yourself by becoming the best version of yourself you can possibly be, and striving for excellence. For these reasons, he would say that one’s life is in constant need of examination because when it comes to being virtuous, there will always be room for improvement. Being the best possible version of yourself is something that is unachievable, but should still be an aspired. By not examining your life, Socrates would say, you are simply not living up to your human nature.
In the latter part of his statement, Socrates claims that this “unexamined life” is not a life worth living. After gaining the knowledge of what Socrates takes the “unexamined life” to be, the question of why he thought it not worth living is something a little more easy to understand. He would say that a life not constantly being taken into question is not a life worth living, for the life not being questioned is more worthy of the man who is living it, than the man is of the life worth living. Socrates said that for man to be worthy of life, he must live up to what is best in him, and for this to occur,
Philosophy,
Sept. 18, 2014
The Unexamined Life
When calling into question Socrates’ idea of an “unexamined life”, one must understand exactly what the purpose of examination is. In most cases, examination is used to help make decisions or judgements based on certain standards, beliefs, values, etc., which are then reflected back upon to make sure that the subject of examination is in-fact living up to these ideals. Therefore, in terms of Socrates’ view, an “unexamined life” is one that is unjudged or unreflected through a critical perspective. It seems he felt this was an important thing to do in order to justify that one’s life is being lived the way it is meant to be lived; the life is being lived up to virtuous standards, and must constantly be examined to ensure that a virtuous life is being lived. Socrates would further say that you should be endlessly working towards improving yourself by becoming the best version of yourself you can possibly be, and striving for excellence. For these reasons, he would say that one’s life is in constant need of examination because when it comes to being virtuous, there will always be room for improvement. Being the best possible version of yourself is something that is unachievable, but should still be an aspired. By not examining your life, Socrates would say, you are simply not living up to your human nature.
In the latter part of his statement, Socrates claims that this “unexamined life” is not a life worth living. After gaining the knowledge of what Socrates takes the “unexamined life” to be, the question of why he thought it not worth living is something a little more easy to understand. He would say that a life not constantly being taken into question is not a life worth living, for the life not being questioned is more worthy of the man who is living it, than the man is of the life worth living. Socrates said that for man to be worthy of life, he must live up to what is best in him, and for this to occur,