After reading Plato’s account of Socrates defense, the Apology, I was
completely blown away by the power of Socrates words and ideas. The reading left
me thinking about how I felt regarding what he had said about virtue, truth and
the quest for both. In class, we discussed Socrates search for virtue and we
touched on the topic of this paper: the reasons Socrates believed that "the
unexamined life is not worth living for man". It is my opinion that he is
correct in that view and in this paper I intend to show you why. Like many
philosophers alive in his time, it was Socrates belief that virtue could only be
attained through examination. Only through exploration can you really understand
what virtue is, and begin to act virtuously. Understanding, as well as sharing,
this information was very important goal to Socrates. The significance of
examining and understanding our lives is far greater than one might think.
Understanding and comprehending the behavior of friends, as well as of
ourselves, enables us to have empathy and compassion for them. And, allows us
not to stand in judgment, which, in turn, allows us to live the moral, noble
lives that Socrates spoke of. Another belief of Socrates that supports his view
is the idea that evil derives from ignorance and the failure to investigate or
explore peoples actions. I believe this to be true, also. This idea also
supports his beliefs on death. Socrates was not well liked because he explored
his ignorance, and was eventually put to death because of it. Marie Curie once
said, "Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood."
That could sum up a great deal of Socrates position in the Apology: why he was
not shaken by death, why he spoke of his relationship with the gods, and
possibly even why he felt the unexamined life is not worth living.