The Privileged Life In Plato's Apology Of Socrates
Socrates lived a life of inquiry in order to achieve a fulfilled life of eudaimonia and success. I argue that the Socratic examined life is a process, which should be valued because it teaches one to be critical thinkers, and aids us in the understanding our true actions.
Achieving happiness through examination involves three core components: Exhortation, examination, and living the examined life. Exhortation involves the ability to apply reason to ideas and actions independent of external pressures such as conforming and authority figures. Exhortation also involves resisting internal pressures such as appetites that may divert our actions, and our sense of status; “Are you not ashamed of your eagerness to possess as much wealth, reputation and honors as possible, while you do not care for nor give thought to wisdom and truth, or the best possible state of your psyche” (Plato, Apology of Socrates 32B-33A). …show more content…
It is in this phase that one begins to understand the origin of their actions. One may think they are pursuing something for one reason, when really there is an unconscious desire that is the true cause of the action. In Plato’s Gorgias (488B-491A), Socrates uses his question and answer technique to the extreme. Socrates continuously asks Callicles, in what may seem like a redundant process, to further explain his idea of the terms ‘better’ and ‘superior’. It is clear through this questioning process that Callicles has many discrepancies in his understanding that weaken his overall
Achieving happiness through examination involves three core components: Exhortation, examination, and living the examined life. Exhortation involves the ability to apply reason to ideas and actions independent of external pressures such as conforming and authority figures. Exhortation also involves resisting internal pressures such as appetites that may divert our actions, and our sense of status; “Are you not ashamed of your eagerness to possess as much wealth, reputation and honors as possible, while you do not care for nor give thought to wisdom and truth, or the best possible state of your psyche” (Plato, Apology of Socrates 32B-33A). …show more content…
It is in this phase that one begins to understand the origin of their actions. One may think they are pursuing something for one reason, when really there is an unconscious desire that is the true cause of the action. In Plato’s Gorgias (488B-491A), Socrates uses his question and answer technique to the extreme. Socrates continuously asks Callicles, in what may seem like a redundant process, to further explain his idea of the terms ‘better’ and ‘superior’. It is clear through this questioning process that Callicles has many discrepancies in his understanding that weaken his overall