What Is Socrates View Of The Good Life Essay

Socrates statement, “the unexamined life is not worth living”(Plato, Apology Part 38) emphasizes the importance Socrates placed on self-awareness and seeking knowledge. Only by doing this are we are able to understand the difference between right and wrong, have true purpose and direction in our life, and live “The Good Life.” Socrates refused not to live his life in pursuit of truth (philosophy) even if it meant death as the penalty. He would rather die than be forced to stop seeking knowledge. In fact, he asked his friends to punish his sons if they grow up placing more importance on riches, or anything, more than virtue, or misrepresent themselves (Plato, Apology Part 42).

Socrates’ statement ties in with the inscription, “Know Thyself,” above the Oracle’s temple door. We must first know who we are to understand where we are going in life. We must examine our lives by asking questions and seeking wisdom. “Self examination leads to self-knowledge, and without self knowledge then life is simply not going to be worthwhile” (Stanfield Apology Lecture). In turn, by knowing ourselves we can set goals and develop principles that guide our life. These
Socrates notes, “What we ought to consider is not so much what people in general will say about us but how we stand with the expert in right and wrong, the one authority, who represents the actual truth” (Plato, Crito Part 48a). Popular opinion is just like the direction of the wind, constantly changing. Therefore, we should only allow our lives to be guided by principles based on truth and knowledge, not public opinion. For instance, many people have homeopathic remedies and offer advice on what works best for various illnesses however it is wiser for us to consult doctors who are experts in the medical field when it comes to matters of our