The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living

"The unexamined life is not worth living"--A weighty statement spoken by arguably the most influential mind in the history of Philosophy. According to Socrates in order to live life to the fullest one must analyze and explore the mind itself. He realized the emphasis his predecessors had made on the study of the physical world and came to the conviction that in order to truly understand the nature of things we must focus our attention within ourselves. Observation of our inner selves gives us the ability to not only understand ourselves more fully but our relationship within the universe. In careful scrutiny of our beliefs, values, and the motivation behind our actions we are able to give thoughtful consideration to the way that we live our lives and stay on the right path-- which for Socrates was the path committed to uncovering The Truth. Exploration of the mind allows us the opportunity to appreciate the unseen nuances in life and incites mental and spiritual growth, leading to a richer and more meaningful existence. As a philosopher the quest for knowledge and wisdom is what makes life worth living, therefore to Socrates an unexamined life would be analogous with a life which had no purpose or value at all.

The credo that Socrates lived by emphasized the importance of the constant pursuit of wisdom through interaction with others. He realized that focusing on attaining a wider scope of the universe through knowledge of our inner selves was far more valuable than limiting it to the study of the corporal aspects of the world. By assessing not only the tangible aspects of the universe a greater understanding of the world which surrounds us could be unveiled. In acknowledging this significance Socrates concluded that we must focus our study on the mind itself. However set on introspection this did not prompt Socrates to cast himself out from society. He realized the significance of perspective and of engaging in intellectual exchanges amongst other interested parties. The objective was to seek an illuminated view of the world by generating ideas, bouncing them from one mind to another, while questioning and ultimately refining them in the process. The ability to juxtapose ideas would eventually contribute to the cultivation of a well-rounded and refined outlook. This progression of ideas would sharpen the minds involved and bring an intensified sense of perspective on the workings of the mind and furthermore the world. The practice