essay about unexamined life is not worth living

Socrates: 'The unexamined life is not worth living.'

The unexamined life is not worth living.

The quote, "The unexamined life is not worth living," attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates, carries a profound meaning that invites us to examine our own existence and choices. Socrates believed that a life devoid of introspection, self-reflection, and critical thinking is essentially meaningless and lacks value. This quote emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and questioning one's beliefs, actions, and purpose in life.At a glance, this quote encourages individuals to engage in self-reflection to discover their true passions and values. When we take the time to examine our lives, we become more aware of our desires, dreams, and aspirations. By questioning our thoughts and actions, we gain a deeper understanding of our motivations and the impact they have on ourselves and those around us. Through self-examination, we can align our lives with our authentic selves, leading to a sense of fulfillment and purpose.However, looking beyond the surface meaning of this quote, it also connects to a broader philosophical concept known as existentialism. Existentialism delves into the deeper questions of human existence, transcending the simple act of self-examination. It explores the meaning of life and the power of individual agency in creating one's own purpose.Existentialists argue that humans possess free will and must take responsibility for their actions and choices. They contend that life doesn't inherently have a predefined meaning or purpose but that individuals can create their own meaning through conscious decision-making. This concept challenges the notion that self-examination is solely about discovering one's passions and aligning with them, but rather about actively forging one's own path and defining their existence.When we incorporate the existentialist perspective into Socrates' quote, it adds a layer of complexity and depth. It invites us to not only examine our lives but also to actively shape and create them. Instead of merely accepting the circumstances we find ourselves in, we are called to take charge and become co-creators of our reality. By doing so, we can find meaning, purpose, and fulfillment in even the most challenging and uncertain situations.While the existentialist perspective might seem overwhelming or burdensome to some, it presents an opportunity for personal growth, self-discovery, and liberation. It challenges us to confront difficult questions about our values, beliefs, and the impermanence of existence. By accepting the responsibility to create our own purpose, we transcend the limitations imposed by societal expectations and cultural norms, enabling us to lead more authentic and fulfilling lives.Ultimately, Socrates' quote, "The unexamined life is not worth living," acts as a catalyst for self-reflection and self-discovery. It invites us to go beyond the superficial and to delve deep into the core of our being. By embracing the principles of existentialism, we recognize that we have the power to shape our lives and find meaning in the face of uncertainty. In doing so, we embark on a profound journey of personal growth and self-actualization, turning the examined life into one filled with purpose, passion, and genuine fulfillment.

Socrates: 'Beauty is a short-lived tyranny.'

Socrates: 'death may be the greatest of all human blessings.'.

The Socratic Journey of Faith and Reason

Western Civilization was built on the transcendentals of Truth, Beauty, and Goodness. In this blog you will get unique, comprehensive, and integrated perspective on how philosophy, theology and art built Western Civilization and why it is in trouble today. I welcome you if you are a first time visitor! If you like what you see, please like and subscribe. Thank you!

8. Socrates and the Unexamined Life

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” 1 -Plato’s Apology , 38a

This now famous line, which Socrates spoke at his trial, has rippled throughout Western Civilization. If I could sum up Socrates’ legacy in one maxim, it would be this quote. We must know ourselves and by extension the reason why we are here.

Socrates may have gotten this idea from the phrase, “know thyself (γνῶθι σεαυτόν), that was inscribed on the temple of Delphi. 2 Or he may have first learned it by reading the works of Heraclitus . Regardless, the important thing is that he burned this idea of self-examination into the collective conscience of Western Civilization by proclaiming. It’s non-negotiable as he faced death by execution.

The famous inscription on the Temple of Delphi was more than a maxim. It was a warning for those who wished to be initiated into the higher mysteries of the divine nature. One could not proceed into the higher mysteries without a proper self-understanding. Knowing thyself then was the doorway into union with the divine. And union with the divine was the catalyst through both divine and human universe myteries, would eventually unfold.

Many Greeks gave lip service to this idea of self-examination, but Socrates lived it. Socrates taught that we need to start from a position of knowing that we are ignorant, rather than thinking we know more than we do. The first step is knowing that we don’t know. Humility is a prerequisite for wisdom. The modern West is characterized by a hubris. That does not allow such an admission and therefore relegates us to not only an ignorance of our ignorance,. But, an ignorance of the wisdom necessary in order to build a vibrant and prosperous and God-centered civilization characterized by truth, beauty, and goodness.

Socrates not only embraced this idea of self-examination, but his goal was to have the city of Athens do the same. That was his purpose. He saw himself as one whose mission it was to raise Athens out of its stupor. And, to set its sights on the transcendent. Consider the following quote: 

“I am far from making a defense now on my own behalf, as might be thought, but on yours, to prevent you from wrongdoing by mistreating the God’s gift to you by condemning me; for if you kill me you will not easily find another like me. I was attached to this city by the god as upon a great and noble horse which was somewhat sluggish because of its size and needed to be stirred up by a kind of gadfly. It is to fulfill some such function that I believe the god has placed me in the city.” 3   -Plato’s Apology , 30 d-e

Socrates’ Purpose

Notice that Socrates conveys a sense of purpose in regards to his mission. But also a sense of humility as well.  He  was charged by the gods to stir Athens up out of its sluggishness. But his role was that of merely a “gadfly.” What Socrates did not realize was that his legacy was not only to stir up Athens, for that would be too small of a thing, but to stir up Western civilization as well. And that includes us. He is asking us to examine our lives to discover our particular God-given purpose. This, I claim, is his main legacy. 

What gave credibility to this and what separated him from the Sophists is that he lived a life of virtue, rather than just telling others to do so. He practiced what he preached. He lived a life of poverty, refusing to get rich off of speaking fees like the Sophists. In other words, he didn’t “sell out.” Consider the following Socrates quote: 

“That I am the kind of person to be a gift of god to this city, you might realize from the fact that it does not seem like human nature for me  to have neglected all my own affairs and to have tolerated this neglect for so many years  while I was always concerned with you, approaching each one of you like a father or an elder brother to persuade you to care for virtue.” 4 -Plato’s Apology , 31 a-c

We can hear echoes of St. Paul in this quote who, in his New Testament writings, said that he suffered much and was deprived in order that he could care for his spiritual children. 5  

The Art of Self-Examination – Personality

In regards to self-examination, many people do not even know where to begin. We don’t even realize that self-examination is essential for a fulfilled life. We sometimes equate self-examination with self-centeredness, morbid introspection, or even narcissism, when actually it is just the opposite. A self-centered person is too self focused to see himself or herself objectively. They are to lost in themselves, to see their purpose in relationship to other people people, their environment, and God. Proper and periodic self-examination is the mark of a healthy individual. But it takes a lifetime and it occurs on on various levels of complexity. We all have a sense of trying to find our purpose, where in the world we fit in.

It is always good to start with one’s temperament, with questions like – are you an introvert or an extrovert? The world need both types of people to make things work. But often in an extroverted society like ours, the introvert, who does not recognize themselves as an introvert, usually struggles. An introvert, who needs to think to come up with good ideas will often find that his work environment does not provide for such practices. Rather, it is full of “team building” practices and constant activity that can leave an introvert drained.

Likewise, spiritual “retreats” are often anything but. They are oftentimes filled with constant activities, leaving no room for contemplation and prayer. For introverts, a good place for self-examination is to recognize that they are introverts and to adjust accordingly. The same holds true for extroverts that find themselves in more contemplative societies or communities. We must understand our temperamental tendencies and what energizes us and adjust accordingly.

From Hippocrates to Myers-Briggs

One can go deeper into understanding oneself by considering the what the Greek physician Hippocrates (c. 460 – c. 370 BC) deemed the four temperaments – sanguine, choleric, melancholic, and phlegmatic. 6 The sanguine is outgoing, but can be diffuse. The choleric is goal driven, but can be angry. The melancholic is a deep thinker, but oftentimes depressed. And the phlegmatic is calm and stable, but can be sluggish and unproductive. Most people are a mixture of these in different proportions with usually one dominating. I used to attend a church that used these in counseling and found that they can be quite useful. But, one can take it too far and start “pigeonholing” people. Like anything else, if used in moderation, it can be very helpful.

Finally, if you want to get real technical, you can use the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator ®  (MBTI ® ), also known as the 16 personality types. 7  We all know this test by initials such as ISTJ, etc. For more information on this, please click the link below. This is the test most often used in large corporations. I took it myself and found it very useful.

The Art of Self-Examination – Human Nature

Temperament is just one aspect of self-examination, but we must go deeper still. Another aspect of self-examination is probing the mysteries of human nature. What does it mean to by human verses non-human? What makes us different? As a society, we have lost our way in understanding human nature. And if we don’t understand who we are, we will never know true happiness, the deep sense of well-being and blessedness that Aristotle termed eudaimonia .

This is unfortunate because there is so much confusion in the West in regards to things like race and sex. Our society is unraveling at an ever increasing speed. I remain optimistic that there will be a time in the not-to-distant future where philosophers, theologians, and scientists could all work together once again to develop an understanding of what it means to be human. Many modern intellectuals think they know, but the don’t. And like Socrates said, the starting point is admitting that we don’t know. That is a large barrier to surmount indeed.

We are in a bad place today wrought by much confusion and despair. Because, understanding human nature has been left up to the scientists and psychologists only. By neglecting the spiritual and ontological aspects of human nature, we get a truncated view of what it means to be a human. This is why our leaders, academic, medical, and political, continually churn out, like a defective machine, woefully inadequate answers to life questions.

Talent and Virtue

Another aspect of self-examination is in evaluating our talents – the things of which we are naturally gifted. But specifically, one can drill down into his or her own proclivities, talents, etc., and to develop those over time. Since we Americans are so pragmatic, we have to be careful not to define our talents too narrowly in terms of what is “useful” or vocationally oriented. One might be good a writing poetry even though they will never earn a living by doing so. On the other hand, if God has given you the ability to make money or had given you a lot of money, then you have many opportunities to help the poor or to donate to worthy causes such as stopping modern day infanticide.

And then there is the component of morality or virtue. Aristotle would have us examine ourselves in relation to the four cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. These virtues and separate yet unified. It is really impossible, if we are to live a life of integrity, to be doing very well in three of the four virtues and terrible in the fourth. For example, we can delude ourselves into thinking that we treat people with justice, are not governed by fear, make decisions with prudence, but are an alcoholic. It doesn’t work that way.

Nevertheless, the prudent thing to do is to examine ourselves to find out which of the four virtues we need to work on. We can set long term goals and short term objectives. For example, if we have a fear of social situations, we can learn over time to expose ourselves to those situations until we eventually overcome that fear.

The best definition of integrity that I know is William Shakespeare’s famous quote from Hamlet, “This above all – to thine own self be true.” 10 And the corollary to that statement is – how can one know how to be true to oneself, if one does not know who they are.

Sun Tzu and the Art of War (and Business)

Sun Tzu (544-496 BC), was a Chinese general, military strategist, and philosopher. We know him as the author The Art of War, that world famous treatise on military strategy. I commonly apply his military wisdom to business competition. One of my favorite sayings of his is that you must know yourself and your enemy. 11 If you do, then you will have victory one hundred times out of one hundred. If you know yourself and not your enemy, then you will have a defeat for every victory.

And finally, if you know neither yourself nor your enemy, you will never have victory. If you are in business, it helps to know what your strengths and weaknesses are juxtaposed to your competition. Don’t try to match your competition’s strength if that is your weakness. Usually, a certain strength will be accompanied by a specific weakness and vice versa. The best situation is where a specific strength that you have corresponds to your competition’s weakness.

Self-Examination and the Soul

This theme of self-examination has a rich history in Christian thought. St. Augustine picked up on this almost a thousand years later when he said in a beautiful poem,  “Lord Jesus, let me know myself and know thee.” 12  St. Augustine, along with many other saints, stressed this idea of examining our consciences to understand the sinful tendencies that hinder us from knowing God. It also works the other way as well. As we encounter God, we understand ourselves better. This comports with what the Hebrew Psalmist said,

“Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts. And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  -Psalm 139:23-24

With the presuppositions of evolutionary biology, then everything that we do is biologically or materially based including our rationality and mental faculties. If we accept these presuppositions, then we become severely limited in our understanding of the human person as we place ourselves in a materialistic prison. This leads to a very erroneous and misguided understanding of ourselves, not to mention dangerous and destructive political and cultural applications. For example, during the COVID outbreak of 2020, the only focus of safety by the powers that by was physical safety. There was no regard or concern by our incompetent overlords for mental and emotional wellbeing. This is because they saw bodies sans souls.

On the other hand, if we accept the true proposition that we are spiritual beings with a soul as well as a body. Then, suddenly everything changes as we are released from our materialistic and nihilistic prison. This enables us to flourish as we live according to our God-given potential. If it is indeed true that we are created in God’s image, then even though we are finite creatures. In reality, we carry inside of us an infinite component of Deity. For those who are Christians and are united to Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, this aspect is compounded to an even greater degree.

So rather than being in a materialistic prison, we are freed to explore our infinite selves. If this be the case, then we can never fully plumb the depths of who we are as creatures made in God’s image. There will always be more to learn about ourselves, our spouses, and those with whom we are in relationship. In addition, we now can come to grips with the high calling of reflecting the character of God. The implications of this are endless. We cannot and will not restore and renew the West unless we come to grips with this fundamental fact.

From Self-Examination to Self-Centeredness in Modernity

Socrates sought virtue and thus lived a life of virtue. Some 20th century philosophers like Aldous Huxley have gone in the opposite direction. They desired to live lives of sexual wantonness and therefore sought belief systems to justify their behavior. Rather than seeking a divine purpose, they sought their own pleasures. Modern man has sought his end, not in a higher calling, but in himself. He is turned inward upon himself into a nihilistic darkness. This is why he is so miserable. Consider the following abridged quote from Aldous Huxley, a 20th century philosopher:

“We objected to the morality because it interfered with our sexual freedom. There was one admirably simple method of confuting these people and at the same time justifying ourselves in our political and erotic revolt: we could deny that the world had any meaning whatsoever.” 13

To deny the divine leads to nihilism.  The god that we have created is one of nihilism as Huxley has stated above. It came to the fore in the West in the early to mid 20th century with the likes of Kafka, Camus, and Sartre. They didn’t invent this modern pessimistic philosophy from nothing, they simply tapped into the alienation and meaninglessness that proliferated in the West as a result of the prevailing secularism. Today, some people deal with their emptiness by adopting a frenetic lifestyle so that they don’t have time to think about their situation. Others deal with the emptiness by numbing their pain through things like pornography and substance abuse. Some even escape through suicide.

Like ancient Athens, we too need to be awakened out of our slumber and revived from our sluggishness. We too have sunk into the doldrums where we are only seeking the earthly and not the heavenly. Wisdom, according to Socrates, involves reorienting ourselves toward God, to examine ourselves and discover our purpose in light of the divine. Only then does life become meaningful and worth living. Maybe, like Socrates, we could act as gadflies within our culture to this end. Socrates knew his purpose for living. Do you know yours?

Aeschylus, a Greek Playwright, circa 500 B.C. 14 said:

“Know Thyself.” -Prometheus Bound, v. 309

Finally, consider the following question:

It seems that narcissism has replaced healthy self examination. Why do you thing this is so? Please leave your comment below and don’t forget to subscribe. Thank you!

Deo Gratias

Type your email…

Featured Book:

From Amazon: Humility is the key to all the virtues. It’s the necessary foundation for growth in all the others. If we do not know ourselves—if we cannot see our flaws and strengths (but especially our flaws)—clearly, how can we grow in virtue? How can we begin to make ourselves less and God more?

• Plato, Apology, 38a, Five Dialogues, Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo, second ed., Translated by G.M.A. Grube, Revised by John M. Cooper, p. 41, Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., Indianapolis/Cambridge, 2002
• From the article “Delphi,” New World Encyclopedia, https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Delphi
• Plato, Five Dialogues, Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo, second ed., 30 d-e, pp. 34-35
• Plato, Five Dialogues, Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo, second ed., 31 a-c, pp. 35
• New Testament, 1 Corinthians 4:8-17
• McIntosh, Matthew A. Editor-in-Chief, “The ‘Four Temperaments’ in Ancient and Medieval Medicine,” A Bold Blend of News and Ideas, October 23, 2020, Please click this link for a thought provoking discussion of the four temperaments – https://brewminate.com/the-four-temperaments-in-ancient-and-medieval-medicine/
• https://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/
• Theology of the Body Institute – https://tobinstitute.org/
• https://shop.corproject.com/collections/books/products/man-and-woman-he-created-them
• Shakespeare, William, Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 3
• Sun Tzu, The Art of War, Translated by James Trapp, Michael Spilling, Project Editor, Designed by Rajdip Sanghera, p.21, Printed and bound in China, Chartwell Books, Inc., New York, 2012, copywrite by Amber Books Ltd., London, UK, 2011
• Kosloski, Philip, “‘Let me know myself’: A beautiful prayer written by St. Augustine,” Aleteia website, 2018, To see the complete prayer, please click the following link – https://aleteia.org/2018/09/16/let-me-know-myself-a-beautiful-prayer-written-by-st-augustine/
• Conner, Frederick W. “‘Attention’!: Aldous Huxley’s Epistemological Route to Salvation.”  The Sewanee Review , vol. 81, no. 2, 1973, pp. 282–308.  JSTOR , www.jstor.org/stable/27542724 .
• Aeschylus, from the play Prometheus Bound , http://classics.mit.edu/Aeschylus/prometheus.html
• See Post 63 entitled “Plato’s Dialogues: Alcibiades and the Challenge of Self-Examination” to read one of Plato’s earliest dialogues where we encounter Socrates exploring how to properly examine oneself.

Sources and Bibliography:

Aeschylus; Vellacott, Philip, Prometheus Bound and Other Plays: Prometheus Bound, The Suppliants, Seven Against Thebes, The Persians , Penguin Classics, New York, 1961

Clayton, David, The Vision For You: How to Discover the Life You Were Made For , Independently Published, 2018

Coppleston, S.J., Frederick, A History of Philosophy, Book One, An Image Book, Doubleday, New York, 1985

Gerth, Holley, The Powerful Purpose of Introverts: Why the World Needs You to Be You , illustrated paperback, Revell Publishing Group, Ada, Michigan, 2020

Grayland, A.C., The History of Philosophy, Penguin Press, New York, 2019

Hock, Father Conrad, Know Yourself Through the Four Temperaments , Create Space Publishing, Scotts Valley, CA, 2018

Hughes, Bettany, The Hemlock Cup: Socrates, Athens and the Search for the Good Life  Paperback – Illustrated, Vintage Publishers, 2012, New York City

John Paul II, author; Michael Waldstein, translator, Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body , Pauline Books & Media, Jamaica Plain, MA, Second Printing edition 2006

Laney, Marti Olsen, The Introvert Advantage: How Quiet People Can Thrive in an Extrovert World , 1st paperback ed., Workman Publishing Company, New York, 2002

Plato, Five Dialogues, Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo, second ed., Translated by G.M.A. Grube, Revised by John M. Cooper, Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., Indianapolis/Cambridge, 2002

Plato, The Last Days of Socrates , Revised Ed., Harold Tarrant (Editor, Translator, Introduction) and Hugh Tredennick (Translator), Penguin Classics, New York, 2003

Sun Tzu, The Art of War, Translated by James Trapp, Michael Spilling, Project Editor, Designed by Rajdip Sanghera, Printed and bound in China, Chartwell Books, Inc., New York, 2012, copywrite by Amber Books Ltd., London, UK, 2011

Voegelin, Eric, Order and History, Vol. 2: The World of the Polis , classic reprint hardcover, Forgotten Books Publishers, London, 2018

Wilson, Emily, The Death of Socrates, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 2007

Xenophon, Conversations of Socrates, Waterfield, Robin H, Editor and Translator; Tedennick, Hugh, Translator, Penguin Classics, Ney York, Revised ed., 1990

Share this:

• Share on Tumblr

Join the Conversation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of new posts by email.

Thank you! Will do. I appreciate the suggestion.

Hello, First I would like to congratulate you on the blog. I think it is an excellent way to delve into the Catholic religion and Platonic philosophy. I am writing to suggest that you put the bibliography in all Plato citations, Example: Criton 49e, to enrich the reading Regards

Your comments are very poignant, poetic, and heartfelt. It made me realize that the world redirects our natural yearnings away from the sublime to the material and temporal and thus misery and frustration ensues. Why do we let the world do this to us? We choose the misery of the temporal over the beauty of the eternal. Most people never realize that the goal of all existence is what is called the Beatific Vision, seeing God face to face. I would be interested to read other people’s responses to Ben’s insightful comments.

I feel that we have fallen from true self-reflection and self- examination in the Socratic fashion. The question has led me on an ongoing journey that is amazing and beautiful as it is terrifying. Though multifaceted, I believe that our obsession with science, material wealth and technology has driven us largely away from God. It’s now all about keeping up with the Joneses at the end of the block. No one is satisfied with nihilism and narcissism which leads to a downward spiral away from true self and towards material and egotistical vanity. I believe we need to look deep into ourselves and into the universe as we fathom eternity, this craving for higher purpose. My question to you and the collective, as existence is a shared experience, how do we stir these yearnings?

Socrates: Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living Report

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Introduction

Works cited.

During his trial at Athens, Socrates said, “Unexamined life is not worthy living” (Baggini). Socrates was tried in court for having encouraged his students to challenge the accepted beliefs or traditions in society (Stern 16). The court gave Socrates several options to choose from, to go in exile, remain silent, or face execution (Stern 18). Socrates chooses to be hanged instead of running away or being silent. He argues that there is no point in living without awareness of what is around you by questioning (Stern 30). Socrates made a decision to be hanged since he believed that living a life where one could not evaluate the world and look for ways of making it better was not worth living. Because of his decision, Socrates was sentenced to death (Stern 30).

By saying that “unexamined life is not worthy living”, Socrates was referring to freedom, a state of making choices about your surrounding, a state of choosing your destination, having the freedom to criticize issues, setting your goals in life, and deciding whether what you are doing is right or wrong (Baggini). In general, Socrates was referring to individuals having the opportunity to understand or know themselves. An examined life is taking control of your life.

To Socrates, life imprisonment would make his life not worth living. This would take his freedom away; he would not have an opportunity to decide what was right or wrong for him (Stern 15). He would no longer examine his environment, nobody would assess his ideas, and neither would he determine his destination. Examining once life is an opportunity to acquire freedom. Having a chance to examine your own life presents you with opportunities to control your life and choose your destiny.

In very simple terms, the unexamined life is a situation in which an individual is not open to question what is around them and what they do (Stern 13). Living unexamined life is living a life, which is not unique, a life that does not reveal new perspectives or ideas; it is a life that has not been appreciated by others in any way (Baggini).

ConclusionIn addition, it is important for individuals to know what is right and wrong in their life. For instance, individuals need to identify their success and failures as well as the reason for the kind of life that they live (Baggini). Socrates chooses death over a confined life because he believed in self-evaluation and knowledge. His choice of death rather than running away or silence is a message that we should appreciate what we believe in rather than living the way other people do or want us to live (Stern 20).

Stern, Paul. Socratic rationalism and political philosophy: An interpretation of Plato’s . New York: Sunny Press, 1993. Print.

Baggini, Julian. The unexamined life is not worth living . 2005. Web.

• Philosophy: Hedonism and Desire Satisfaction Theory
• Moral and Contemporary Philosophy
• Researching Socrates and His Ideas
• What is the value of the examined life?
• The Holocaust: Historical Analysis
• The Doctrine of Negative Responsibility
• Immanuel Kant's and John Stuart Mill's Moral Philosophies
• Aristotle Philosophical Perspective
• Infanticide: the Practice of Killing a Newborn Baby
• Morality of Friedrich Nietzsche and Alasdair MacIntyre
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2021, January 27). Socrates: Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living. https://ivypanda.com/essays/socrates-unexamined-life-is-not-worth-living/

"Socrates: Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living." IvyPanda , 27 Jan. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/socrates-unexamined-life-is-not-worth-living/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'Socrates: Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living'. 27 January.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Socrates: Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living." January 27, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/socrates-unexamined-life-is-not-worth-living/.

1. IvyPanda . "Socrates: Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living." January 27, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/socrates-unexamined-life-is-not-worth-living/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Socrates: Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living." January 27, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/socrates-unexamined-life-is-not-worth-living/.

Essay Service Examples Philosophy Socrates

The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living: Argumentative Essay

• Proper editing and formatting
• Free revision, title page, and bibliography
• Flexible prices and money-back guarantee

Our writers will provide you with an essay sample written from scratch: any topic, any deadline, any instructions.

Cite this paper

Related essay topics.

Get your paper done in as fast as 3 hours, 24/7.

Related articles

Most popular essays

• Perspective
• Self Concept

In Plato’s Alcibiades I, the relationship between Socrates and Alcibiades is a perfect example of...

• Personal Identity

On a quiet Sunday afternoon, Socrates and Hume meet at a coffee shop in a small town, well away...

Socrates, the enigmatic philosopher of ancient Athens, remains an enduring symbol of wisdom,...

• Letter from Birmingham Jail
• The Apology

Do you tend to think critically about who you are and what is your purpose? How would your life be...

• The Republic

Plato's 'The Apology' is a dialogue that provides Plato's version of a speech given by Socrates to...

Socrates has been persecuted by Meletus for corrupting the youth, inventing new gods, and denying...

The focus of the investigation presented queries; to what extent was Socrates’s death justified...

• Personal Beliefs

What is a ‘good life’? The idea of a ‘good life’ varies and is argued as everyone has their own...

Ignorance is usually an ability that any person would now not know. In truth, lack of knowledge is...

Join our 150k of happy users

• Get original paper written according to your instructions
• Save time for what matters most

Fair Use Policy

EduBirdie considers academic integrity to be the essential part of the learning process and does not support any violation of the academic standards. Should you have any questions regarding our Fair Use Policy or become aware of any violations, please do not hesitate to contact us via [email protected].

We are here 24/7 to write your paper in as fast as 3 hours.

Provide your email, and we'll send you this sample!

By providing your email, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy .

Say goodbye to copy-pasting!

Get custom-crafted papers for you.

Enter your email, and we'll promptly send you the full essay. No need to copy piece by piece. It's in your inbox!

Home — Essay Samples — Philosophy — Socrates — The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living: Analysis

The Unexamined Life is not Worth Living: Analysis

• Categories: Meaning of Life Philosophy of Life Socrates

About this sample

Words: 2616 |

14 min read

Published: May 17, 2022

Words: 2616 | Pages: 6 | 14 min read

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Prof. Kifaru

Verified writer

• Expert in: Philosophy

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

3 pages / 1273 words

3 pages / 1490 words

3 pages / 1300 words

3 pages / 1303 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Socrates

Socrates's Euthyphro dilemma is a philosophical problem presented in Plato's dialogue, Euthyphro. In this dialogue, Socrates and Euthyphro discuss the nature of piety and the concept of holiness. The Euthyphro dilemma has been a [...]

The object of this analysis is the philosophical work of Socrates titled Crito. The author offers some compelling arguments about the moral authority of the state. It might seem inconsistent with another basic statement of the [...]

Brickhouse, T. C., & Smith, N. D. (2014). Socrates. In E. N. Zalta (Ed.), The Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Retrieved from 281-289.

In exploring Socrates' fear of death analysis, we are confronted with profound questions about the nature of mortality and the purpose of our existence. Socrates, the wise philosopher, reminds us that death is not to be feared [...]

Socrates is known as one of the first philosophers in Western philosophy to dedicate his life to the study of human nature. Furthermore, he believes that human beings are rational, and that pursuing the truth is the most [...]

The most interesting historical figures that have ever existed are Socrates and St. Augustine that were in the center of the spiritual life in ancient time. Their works still are the most influential all over the world. [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

• Science & Math
• Sociology & Philosophy
• Law & Politics

Quote Analysis: The unexamined life is not worth living

• Quote Analysis: The unexamined life…

Socrates believed that living a life where you live under the rules of others , in a continuous routine without examining what you actually want out of it is not worth living.

This illustration of a lifestyle is what Socrates would describe an unexamined life. Hence Socrates’ renowned statement “The unexamined life is not worth living”. Declaring that humans must scrutinize their lives in order to live a fulfilled one isn’t agreeable to any extent.

Socrates’ statement does instigate discussion, but it doesn’t necessarily apply to everyone’s way of life and what makes or doesn’t make their life worth living. The theory that all lives that are unexamined don’t have a purpose and should not be lived is unreasonable and simply not true.

There is a lot more that contributes to a person’s happiness and well-being besides “examining their lives”. Factors such as life experiences, being with family, things to be thankful for, memories, and reaching success in life. Everything that makes one happy, and a happy life should most definitely be lived whether its examined or not.

Epicurus’ philosophy on happiness , is composed of three things; good companionship (friends), having freedom (being self-sufficient and free from everyday life and politics) and an analysed life (meaning to have time and space to think things through). Epicurus and Socrates have different approaches to the phrase “analysing life”.

Epicurus would advise not to spend money as temporary relief for a bad day but rather take time out and reflect and contemplate. Socrates on the other hand has a different stance. Epicurus believes that analysing your life is one third of what it takes to have a happy life whereas Socrates believes that if you are not constantly reviewing and examining every aspect of your life just so you can get the best out of it, it’s not worth living in general.

De Montaigne was one of the most significant philosophers of the French Renaissance and is best known for his skepticism. De Montaigne would’ve had an advancing degree of doubt and disagreement on Socrates’ statement that “the unexamined life is not worth living”.

Socrates said that having a mechanical life with an unthinking routine, under the rules of others without ever examining whether or not they truly want to live with those routines or rules is basically not worth living anymore. However, De Montaigne had a contrary belief on what bring our lives happiness and what makes them “not worth living”.

He believed that human have a tendency to over-think things and that’s mainly where our unhappiness comes from. To be happy De Montaigne knew that we didn’t need intelligence and brain facts, we required wisdom and life experience. De Montaigne urged us to live the best lives we possibly can by simply not worry about our appearance, accept our own and everyone else’s culture, and always endeavour to become wiser.

De Montaigne had quite the opposite approach on how to live a happy life to Socrates. Socrates believed over analysing and examining our lives would lead to better ones, whereas De Montaigne would advise us to spend less time over-analysing and overthinking things as it leads to insecurities that we are all far better off without.

Socrates statement “The unexamined life is not worth living”, is an exaggeration and is predominantly false but does have a degree of truth to it. We must occasionally question ourselves and the world, as otherwise we will act without reason, and be unable to distinguish between good or bad actions, and without this way of thinking Socrates might argue we are no better off than animals.

But with this statement, Socrates promotes the idea that people who don’t examine their lives should not live. Socrates seemed to overlook other factors that account to our happiness and give worth to our lives. In disagreement with Socrates; We all must contemplate now and again but only to a certain extent, as it can be disastrous to overthink and reconsider every aspect of our life.

Related Posts

• Characteristics & Chemistry of Life
• Roman Legions Life & Work
• What is Half-Life? (Chemistry)
• A Tale of Two Cities: Summary & Analysis
• Elizabeth Thomas’ The Hidden Life: Summary & Analysis

14 Comments

I think that the examined life is and integral part of existence. Who would not promote self reflection and self examination? These are key in psychotherapy, most if not all religion/practices as well as self help programs.

Let us reflect on our own life – the only one we can truly experience – and not be over (or under) whelmed by the lives of others. Let us all recognize ourselves in the context of our humanity to ourselves and to each other. Let us look within ourselves to find happiness and purpose rather than in the distractions of comparison and acquisition that consume so much of our human time. Let us take the time to reflect on our own being within the framework of all-being and not separate our self from life.

One does not negate the other. Clearly this thesis portrays the authors lack of understanding of Socrates.

So true. Thank you.

Not only does one not negate the other, but is very possible that the examined life takes one on a road away from family and other default unexamined “virtues” that are in fact socio-cultural cliches that do not stand up under scrutiny. Running with the herd is only a virtue if it is in fact a deliberate choice stemming from the examined life. The reality is that it is indeed possible–and highly likely, in fact–that living the examined life (a la psychotherapy, or contemplative hermit, or religious, or just an assertion of personal freedom) will diverge from the herd and one needs to have the courage for the adventure of being to go one’s own way. That Socrates’ life exemplified, not pabulum/bromide about being “safely” tucked in with the herd. To paraphrase Fromm, “It is better to live a single day as a tiger than a whole lifetime as a sheep.” He didn’t mean that in the political sense but in the sense of living as a full human being. Living fully in the experience of the courage to be human is to live the examined life. Failing to do so, that life is not worth living.

It is not an exaggeration; therefore, neither false..

Socrates was arguing that happiness derived from delusion is fleeting, shallow, and worthless. Happiness from an examined life has far more value.

But if the person experiencing the “shallow” and “worthless” happiness is truly happy, why should someone else tell them to be happier? Or live a different way?

You mention that: “The theory that all lives that are unexamined don’t have a purpose and should not be lived is unreasonable and simply not true. There is a lot more that contributes to a person’s happiness and well-being besides “examining their lives”. Socrates’ argument and yours are fundamentally different in that Socrates was not invoking happiness and well-being. Nay, he was killed for his unconventionality and clearly believed that meaning and purpose superceded happiness and well-being. For some, happiness and well-being are satisfactory drives for living, for others, meaning and purpose are fundamental. And it can be and has been argued that we did not evolve nervous systems for happiness (see TED talk – “The science of mindfulness” by Dr. Ron Siegel). Socrates was prescient and forward-thinking in that he understood that his transgressions were necessary to facilitate positive change within and across cultures. He almost certainly understood that his ostensibly negligent teachings would bring about his own destruction in pursuit of greater good and chose that path anyway. Our tendency toward groupthink, biases, and role confusion about the meaning of our lives is what he was getting at. Life being all about happiness and well-being is egocentric and self-serving, which is entirely your right to focus on. Some have a more nomothetic approach to understanding the functions of species, and some choose the idiographic approach. We certainly need both for each serves important purposes that partially overlap with and diverge from the other.

I don’t think either of the arguments given go against Socrates’ statement that, “an unexamined life is not worth living”.

Epicurus argues that the examination of one’s life is the most important thing after receiving all the essentials; all that is needed for proper survival. If this was translated into Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, it would take up the final two stages (after physical needs, safety and love). I don’t understand where your argument on wasting money as a temporary relief has its bases on, Socrates never advises that and it goes contrary to much of what he says.

De Montaigne argues against overanalyzing one’s life and the dangers it could bring: unhapiness. Socrates also doesn’t say anything about worrying about your appereances or on not accepting other people’s cultures. These arguments are not against Socrates, because he never argued in favor of them. It would also be hypocritical for Montaigne to argue against the analysis of ones life, (which he does not do), since that is what he does in ‘Essays’

What Socrates argues, at least how I see it, is that we should constantly question ourselves and the world around us so that we can understand what is essential. That doesn’t mean question ourselves on the same subject throughout our lives, but rather look at everything new and important happening to us and try to understand it, through observation . and analysis. I believe the three philosophers named here have very similar opinions on the importance of analyzing ones life, they just argued them in different ways using different words. Analysis paralysis is dangerous, and Socrates never argued in favor of it.

Socrates made this comment in response to a question as to why he could not simply remain quiet. He was talking about his own values, not applying this universally. If I say that life is not worth living without sports, then it doesn’t mean that anyone who doesn’t like sports is worthless or undeserving to live.

Maybe just report what Socrates said and the context in which he said it and let kids make up their own minds?

Didn’t Socrates state that “an unexamined life is not worth living for human beings”. If he was referring to his own values, as you say, wouldn’t he say something like, an unexamined life is not worth living for me.

There are several factors that deserve consideration: what does Socrates (via Plato) mean by “unexamined”, and “Life”, and “worth”. All of these are slippery terms, not helped by the fact that we are dealing with a translation from Ancient Greek language, and a bunch of ideas that may have had VERY different meanings in a small Mediterranean city 2500 years ago.

It is illogical to presume that Socrates would want the vast majority of people to not live. If, however, we view his (alleged) statement in terms of a regret, or an exhortation, then we can understand that Socrates would PREFER that people might take some time out to consider their existence in relation to some of the big questions… that applies as much today, as it did back then. Does “examination” of one’s life require an anxious OCD approach to each and every decision and action in relation to its philosophical consequences? Or does it rather require us to understand the socio-political forces that create our context, and the historical/cultural influences that shape our opinions, and to acknowledge these when we declare our position?

And when Socrates talks about a “life”, is he referring to the biography of an average Joe, or is he referring to a “Life” of a person who is fully and actively engaged in all creative and intellectual levels, as a kind of ideal person, being all that they can be?

This leads to the question of worth: this is an exceedingly relative term. Some things are valued more than others, by pawnbrokers, historians, governments, auctioneers. It depends on who is doing the valuing, and how they are defining the worth of the object. Zen teaches us that great worth can be found even in the most mundane and repetitive tasks, if you can summon the passions and engagement to seek a kind of perfection in what you are doing. The lack of “worth” Socrates may have been referring to could be seen to relate to the classic Marxian condition of “alienation”, whereby people are “just doing stuff” to get by and exist, and in so doing they kind of muddle through their lives, and unwittingly prop up stupid and abusive regimes.

In summary, we can’t really KNOW what Socrates may have meant by his statement. To suggest that it means that we have to either be angst-ridden navel-gazers, or unworthy of life, is a reductio ad absurdum, and an insult to the challenge that Socrates actually laid out: what might a reflective life mean? How might we live one? What benefits might it offer? How might widespread thoughtfulness influence the evolution of culture, society, mankind?

Please don’t reduce Socrates’ challenge to cheap intellectual snobbery on his part: have a think about what potentials may lie in his advice, if we’re prepared to nuance our own understandings of his terms.

This argument falls apart given the apparent utilitarian perspective on value of life.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Post comment

• Insights IAS Brochure |
• OUR CENTERS Bangalore Delhi Lucknow Mysuru --> Srinagar Dharwad Hyderabad

Call us @ 08069405205

Search Here

• An Introduction to the CSE Exam
• Personality Test
• Annual Calendar by UPSC-2025
• Common Myths about the Exam
• About Insights IAS
• Our Mission, Vision & Values
• Director's Desk
• Meet Our Team
• Our Branches
• Careers at Insights IAS
• Daily Current Affairs+PIB Summary
• Insights into Editorials
• Insta Revision Modules for Prelims
• Current Affairs Quiz
• Static Quiz
• Current Affairs RTM
• Insta-DART(CSAT)
• Insta 75 Days Revision Tests for Prelims 2024
• Secure (Mains Answer writing)
• Secure Synopsis
• Ethics Case Studies
• Insta Ethics
• Weekly Essay Challenge
• Insta Revision Modules-Mains
• Insta 75 Days Revision Tests for Mains
• Secure (Archive)
• Anthropology
• Law Optional
• Kannada Literature
• Public Administration
• English Literature
• Medical Science
• Mathematics
• Commerce & Accountancy
• Monthly Magazine: CURRENT AFFAIRS 30
• Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
• InstaMaps: Important Places in News
• Weekly CA Magazine
• The PRIME Magazine
• Insta Revision Modules-Prelims
• Insta-DART(CSAT) Quiz
• Insta 75 days Revision Tests for Prelims 2022
• Insights SECURE(Mains Answer Writing)
• Interview Transcripts
• Previous Years' Question Papers-Prelims
• Answer Keys for Prelims PYQs
• Solve Prelims PYQs
• Previous Years' Question Papers-Mains
• UPSC CSE Syllabus
• Toppers from Insights IAS
• Testimonials
• Felicitation
• UPSC Results
• Indian Heritage & Culture
• Ancient Indian History
• Medieval Indian History
• Modern Indian History
• World History
• World Geography
• Indian Geography
• Indian Society
• Social Justice
• International Relations
• Agriculture
• Environment & Ecology
• Disaster Management
• Science & Technology
• Security Issues
• Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
• Insights IAS Brochure

• Indian Heritage & Culture
• Enivornment & Ecology

“An unexamined life is not worth living”. – Socrates. What does the following quotations mean to you? Discuss the importance of self-realization?

Topic: Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships.

7. “An unexamined life is not worth living”. – Socrates. What does the following quotations mean to you? Discuss the importance of self-realization? (250 words)

Reference: Ethics by Lexicon.

Key demand of the question. The question wants us to explain the meaning of the quote and discuss the importance of self-realization for every individual. Structure of the answer Introduction- Briefly talk about Socrates and his philosophy. Body- Highlight the importance of getting to know oneself by examining their strengths, weaknesses and how to overcome the same. Discuss the importance of self-realization and what happens when one does that. Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.

• Our Mission, Vision & Values
• Director’s Desk
• Commerce & Accountancy
• Previous Years’ Question Papers-Prelims
• Previous Years’ Question Papers-Mains
• Environment & Ecology
• Science & Technology

24/7 writing help on your phone

To install StudyMoose App tap and then “Add to Home Screen”

An Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living Meaning Essay

Save to my list

Remove from my list

Introduction

Socrates' perception of unexamined life is not worth living.

The Difference Between Existence and Living

Life is worth living if you are aware of your flaws, finding reason to live an unexamined life.

An Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living Meaning Essay. (2024, Feb 02). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/an-unexamined-life-is-not-worth-living-meaning-essay-essay

"An Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living Meaning Essay." StudyMoose , 2 Feb 2024, https://studymoose.com/an-unexamined-life-is-not-worth-living-meaning-essay-essay

StudyMoose. (2024). An Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living Meaning Essay . [Online]. Available at: https://studymoose.com/an-unexamined-life-is-not-worth-living-meaning-essay-essay [Accessed: 4 Sep. 2024]

"An Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living Meaning Essay." StudyMoose, Feb 02, 2024. Accessed September 4, 2024. https://studymoose.com/an-unexamined-life-is-not-worth-living-meaning-essay-essay

"An Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living Meaning Essay," StudyMoose , 02-Feb-2024. [Online]. Available: https://studymoose.com/an-unexamined-life-is-not-worth-living-meaning-essay-essay. [Accessed: 4-Sep-2024]

StudyMoose. (2024). An Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living Meaning Essay . [Online]. Available at: https://studymoose.com/an-unexamined-life-is-not-worth-living-meaning-essay-essay [Accessed: 4-Sep-2024]

• An Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living Pages: 6 (1601 words)
• Plato’s The Apology: Is The Unexamined Life Worth Living Pages: 4 (905 words)
• Is It Worth Legalizing Drugs or Not Pages: 6 (1614 words)
• College Loan Debt: The Degree Is Worth It Or Not Pages: 6 (1613 words)
• Black Friday Deals Are Not Worth It Pages: 5 (1318 words)
• College Education: Worth It Or Not Pages: 3 (740 words)
• Living and non living things Pages: 7 (1816 words)
• Difference between living in the States vs. living in Germany Pages: 6 (1589 words)
• Country living vs city living Pages: 2 (460 words)
• Living in Rural Area is better than living in Urban Area Pages: 2 (390 words)

👋 Hi! I’m your smart assistant Amy!

Don’t know where to start? Type your requirements and I’ll connect you to an academic expert within 3 minutes.

An Unexamined life is not worth living - essay

EF_Team2 1 / 1704   Apr 21, 2008   #2 Greetings! I think your idea is good! I love that old Socrates. ;-) You've chosen some good quotations to make your point. Since your essay is so lengthy, I can't correct the whole thing. However, I can use the first paragraph to illustrate the types of things to watch for: Through out generations, mankind has been asking themselves what is the purpose of life. - Throughout the generations, mankind has asked, "What is the purpose of life?" That will get you off to a good start (and it's so true). A few other things from paragraph 1: a target to go. - how about: "a target to go to", or "a target to aim for." In order to make one life becomes worth to live , this famous statement strongly addresses that one must exanimate himself first . . . - In order to makes one's life worth living , this famous statement strongly addresses the idea that one must examine himself first . . . I hope that gives you an idea of what to look for when you're proofing and editing. A trick I use is to read my work out loud. I find all kinds of mistakes when I do that, and usually some things I didn't say clearly enough. You can also read it to another person (someone that you trust for an honest and useful opinion). Also, you might consider varying the use of "one" throughout the essay. You can say "a person" or "the individual", for instance. Oh, one other idea: if your university has a Writing Center, the folks there could be very helpful. Best of luck, and thanks! Sarah EssayForum.com