The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living
The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living
Not everyone is as knowledgeable as the great philosopher Socrates, but many of us possess the same way of thinking as this remarkable man. The claim, “the unexamined life is not worth living,” brings about many questions and possibilities about what life is and how it is valued. Not only is philosophy itself extremely subjective in nature, so are we the students of this subject. We all bring about our own beliefs and opinions to the table, each contributing to the meaning behind “the unexamined life is not worth living.”
This broad statement can be interpreted a variety of ways. In Socrates “Apology” we all understand that he is pleading for his life. Everyone values ones own life, and relating to this is easy. Commenting and saying, “the unexamined life is not worth living” is not quite so easy. Socrates is trying to explain to the jurors that when someone does wrong, if he or she steps back and examines the wrongdoing and understands the nature of which has occurred,