StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...

Explain Socrates' claim that the unexamined life is not worth living (Apology) - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
Name Tutor Course Date The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living “The unexamined life is not worth living,” is a familiar saying that Socrates said at his trial for heresy, that is, encouraging his students to challenge the accepted beliefs and think of themselves instead and this led to his death sentence…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER98.5% of users find it useful
Explain Socrates claim that the unexamined life is not worth living (Apology)
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Explain Socrates' claim that the unexamined life is not worth living (Apology)"

Download file to see previous pages

Therefore, Socrates claimed that for a human being to live a worthy life, everyone should question, examine and re-examine the values of their lives daily. This paper explores the meaning and the significance of the Socrates claim that “the unexamined life is not worth living” focusing on the Apology and Euthyphro. The words, ‘the unexamined life is not worth living’ by Socrates comes from Plato’s Apology when Socrates is sentenced to death after being accused of corrupting the youth and impiety.

Patterson (16) posits that apology is one historical account of Socrates’ defense during his trial, and these words appear at the end of the Apology when Socrates is going through possible punishments for charges against him. Socrates utters these words when the jury has already found him guilty and has to decide on what kind of punishment to impose on him, which was agreed to be a death sentence. After being sentenced to death, he has to choose an alternative punishment like life sentence or exile but he declines the offer claiming that giving up philosophy would be disobedient to god.

Therefore, by ‘the unexamined life is not worth living’, Socrates meant that he was ready to face death instead of living a simple life where he is not capable of examining claims of knowledge from other people, to challenge them and be able to ask them hard questions about reality. He urged people to be concerned about virtue to examine themselves and others because unexamined life is not worth living (Patterson 15). The dialogue between Socrates and Euthyphro revolve around the issue of piety.

Briefly, both Socrates and Euthyphro are involved in this aspect of piety. Euthyphro suggests that piety is all about prosecuting anyone who is guilty of murder but after challenged by Socrates, he states that piety is something that is dear to gods, arguing that piety is what all the gods love whereas impiety is what all the gods hate. Socrates refused to accept many popular tales about activities of gods (Patterson, 11). According to Socrates, piety represents unexamined life, which is not worth living, and as such, he was accused of creating new gods and ignoring the traditional Athens gods.

Therefore, by stating that unexamined life is not worth living, Socrates was informing individuals to look within and get the true value of life by carefully analyzing their actions in order to live a happy life where no one gets hurt. Critical examination of life is necessary as it involves evaluation of events from both the past and present. Through this, one is able to learn from the past mistakes and correct them, watch his actions and live a more fulfilling life; this is because without thorough examination of life, life is worthless.

In a situation where a person fails to examine his life, he will keep on repeating past mistakes and stagnation is inevitable. People should try to be virtuous, try to find out and realize what they do not know in life to have a broader view of the world (Kamtekar 154). Socrates claim about unexamined life is unworthy can be seen as implying that a life without introspection, with no personal reflection is totally a waste since lack of self-understanding and analysis is likely to lead to repetition of past mistakes and blaming others.

Failure to have a deep personal understanding makes a person to live unexamined life. Moreover, lack of meaningful life and progress is a waste of time; it

...Download file to see next pages Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Explain Socrates' claim that the unexamined life is not worth living Essay”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/philosophy/1487898-explain-socratesyie-claim-that-ypthe-unexamined
(Explain Socrates' Claim That the Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living Essay)
https://studentshare.org/philosophy/1487898-explain-socratesyie-claim-that-ypthe-unexamined.
“Explain Socrates' Claim That the Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living Essay”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/philosophy/1487898-explain-socratesyie-claim-that-ypthe-unexamined.
  • Cited: 1 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Explain Socrates' claim that the unexamined life is not worth living (Apology)

Platos The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living

hellip; Then, explain how this doctrine might be related to his claim in the Apology that "the unexamined life is not worth living".... Then, explain how this doctrine might be related to his claim in the Apology that "the unexamined life is not worth living".... This is related to his famous saying ‘for the unexamined life is not worth living for men' (38a) in the Apology.... According to Socrates the best a man can be is by discussing excellence and virtue so as to make one's life better and to test himself and others for this wisdom as, according to him, a person who does not examine his life and implement his wisdom to make it better, has a life not worth being lived....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

SOCRATES AND THE MEANING OF PHILOSOPHY

In the first section of the paper, I explain Socrates' philosophy, specifically irony, method, and ethos, and how Socrates' statement, “the unexamined life is not worth living,” is related to these three components.... Plato's apology describes Socrates' identity and philosophy through narrating his trial.... In apology, Socrates criticizes the Sophists for using logos without examining the ethical value and consequences of their arguments....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

Interpretation of Speech by Socrates: The Apology of Plato

Subject: 15 November 2013 The apology of Plato apology by Plato is an interpretation of speech by Socrates which he presented in his defense before the Athenian council.... As the title suggests it does not mean that it is a kind of apology and it derives from a Greek word “apologia” which means a speech made in defense (Plato 2013).... This means that in The apology Socrates try to defend himself.... It is certain with the dialogues that Socrates was very much idealized by his students and the whole account of apology suggests that Plato was kind of loyal to his teacher....
9 Pages (2250 words) Term Paper

Apology versus Crito

Moreover he favors death to imprisonment and exile, he thinks that “a life that is not examined is not worth living” so he would continue philosophizing even if his life is at stake.... Plato's Socrates in the “apology” declares that he would continue to philosophize even if the court ordered him not to, as he does not believe that one must obey the laws of the state.... … In the “apology” Socrates is convicted for not obeying the rules of God and demeaning the citizens of Athens....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Socrates Political View

Additionally, the approach posits that people do not commit evil intentionally and that they can explain the different accounts that have transformed their lives.... The following essay is focused on the political views of Socrates.... Admittedly, Socrates philosophical approach concerns human nature and human reality....
8 Pages (2000 words) Essay

In the Apology, Socrates claims that the unexamined life is not worth living (38a)

The claim of Socrates that “the unexamined life is not worth living” refers to the spiritual life of an individual.... The real achievement and advancement towards the goal of life is possible only through self-realization.... A good life is twice-blessed.... Instead of chasing the external world for aggrandizement of material possessions, an individual has to commence the journey of the inner world to understand and experience of the true meaning of life....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Views on Teaching Athenians: Socrates, Thoreau, and the Sophists

Ironically, few historical documents are kept and scholars rely only on fragmented details describing Socrates since he refused to write about himself and his life as a thinker.... What Navia (2997) tries to do is to synthesize the work of primary sources who had direct contact with Socrates and secondary sources to deliver a vivid and honest display of Socrates's ideas and life.... In Socrates: A life Examined, Navia (2007) presents a unique view of Socrates dividing it into two parts....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Plato's Apology through Socrates

The paper "Plato's Apology through Socrates" makes it clear Plato indicates that the unexamined life is not worth living.... Throughout Socrates' argument, there is the thematic undercurrent that in teaching wisdom and spreading the truth to the Athenian youth he is pursuing the right path and that to cease doing so and live an examined life to prevent the court from taking his life is not worth doing.... Socrates begins by indicating this since his purpose in life is being a philosopher, for him, it is essential to living an examined life - the highest virtue and worth....
6 Pages (1500 words) Book Report/Review
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us