`The Apology` by Socrates

Examination of Life

Socrates was referring solely to self-examination in Apology , when he said that the unexamined life is not worth living (Plato . In this we will prove why the philosopher was not referring to the unexamined lives of others as he said these words . We will examine the words surrounding Socrates ' statement before we argue our own position that , in fact , the philosopher was referring to the examination of his life alone when he stated that the unexamined life is not worth living

Socrates had said

For if I

tell you that this would be a disobedience to a divine command , and therefore that I

cannot hold my tongue , you will not believe that I am serious and if I say again that the

greatest good of man is daily to converse about virtue , and all that concerning which you hear

me examining myself and others , and that the life which is unexamined is not worth living -

that you are still less likely to believe (Plato

Socrates is quite religious , seeing that he refers to the divine command . He does not believe in the gods of his society . Instead , he is similar to the Old Testament 's wise men who would not only stick to their own particular systems , despite the displeasure of society but also advise people in the following words : `Know thyself

Although the philosopher refers to examining the lives of others as well as himself , he cannot push people to examine their own lives . He may get them to think for a few moments about their

EXAMINATION OF LIFE

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personalities as well as the experiences of their lives . However thorough self-examination cannot be forced . Hence , we cannot claim that Socrates made people examine their own lives by examining their lives on his own . And if they have not examined their own lives , they have no reason to suppose that their unexamined lives are not worth living After all , such people could go on unthinkingly eating , sleeping reproducing , and dying

Socrates has examined his own life and the lives of others However , even if he had not examined the lives of others , his life may have been `examined ' by himself still . The philosopher is not saying that examination of the lives of others can make their lives worth living . On the contrary , he is only referring to self-examination because only a person who has examined his own life has the right to decide that an unexamined life is not worth living

Referring to the lives of others before asserting that the unexamined life is not worth living ' - is the teacher 's method used by Socrates . The philosopher is only advising people to examine their own lives , often by beginning the process of self-examination for them by himself . Moreover , he is fulfilling the divine command by giving divine advice (`Know thyself ) to people . All the same , whether the people he advises examine their lives or not , has no impact on Socrates ' own life Ultimately...