The unexamined life is not worth living
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Cerebrate Weekly: The unexamined life is not worth living
The Greek philosopher, Socrates after a long trail was given two options: Imprisonment for life or be executed. In response, he uttered the famous dictum “The unexamined life is not worth living ” and he chose death.
For Socrates, to be separated from a life of reflection, investigation & examination by exile was therefore a fate worse than death. Socrates believed that non-reflective people weren’t really living because being reflective is what the essence of being human.
“Worthless people live only to eat and drink; people of worth eat and drink only to live.” ~ Socrates
He saw great value in questioning one’s assumptions and beliefs, and in exploring the deeper meaning and purpose of one’s life.
He saw great value in questioning one’s assumptions and beliefs, and in exploring the deeper meaning and purpose of one’s life.
To find yourself, think for yourself” ~ Socrates
The Denial of Metaphysics
One of the problems of modern society is its denial of metaphysics – which involves thinking beyond the material world, in that it involves questioning the assumptions and beliefs that underpin our worldview, much like Socrates’ emphasis on self-examination.
As the Scholar & theologian Hamza Yusuf penned:
Metaphysics is also the science of abstraction: the attempt to grasp the nature of things in their immaterial and universal essences. (The physical sciences, in this way, have a metaphysical dimension in that their universal laws are statements about essence abstracted from particular instances.)
Metaphysics aims to understand first principles, including those of causation itself, its nature, scope, and limits. This invariably means it investigates the contents of our minds, including our presuppositions (all that we assume or take for granted), how it is that we perceive the world, and the effects of those presuppositions on our active life, which are left unexamined by most people—hence, Socrates’ famous dictum, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”1
Metaphysics aims to understand first principles, including those of causation itself, its nature, scope, and limits. This invariably means it investigates the contents of our minds, including our presuppositions (all that we assume or take for granted), how it is that we perceive the world, and the effects of those presuppositions on our active life, which are left unexamined by most people—hence, Socrates’ famous dictum, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”1
In today’s fast-paced world, where we are constantly bombarded with distractions and demands on our time, it can be challenging to find the space and time for self-examination.
In today’s fast-paced world, where we are constantly bombarded with distractions and demands on our time, it can be challenging to find the space and time for self-examination.
However, taking the time to reflect on our lives, beliefs, experiences and deeds is inevitable as reminded by the second caliph of Islam Umar Bin Al Khattab : “Hold yourselves accountable before you are held accountable and evaluate yourselves before you are evaluated, for the Reckoning will be easier upon you tomorrow if you hold yourselves accountable today.”
Food for Thought
What are the assumptions and beliefs that underpin your worldview? How might they be limiting your ability to grow and learn?
