Socrates Claim - Essay Sample

The word philosophy can be expressed as the love of wisdom, and the individuals studying philosophy try to acquire knowledge by means of reason and rationality. Socrates, one of the ancient philosophy founders once said that the unexamined life is not worth living. That was a fundamental part of his life and it required to search for purpose and value in living. If an individual makes a choice to live their lives free from examination, their life would not have any value and thus would remain to be unhappy (Philosophy and the Good Life A Text for Beginners, 2016). They also would be neglective of the impacts the choices they make on themselves as well as their neighbors. Plato, Socrates student, in his book The Republic had written an allegory referred to as Plato's Cave. In his allegory, people are trapped within a cave full of darkness in which they can get hold of the worlds glimpses above by help of the shadows on the walls. Plato describes the mode of the typical human. He describes them as people with inadequate knowledge and what they assume to be known has very little facts basis.

Many things are not worth an unexamined life. Socrates makes claims that an examined life is worth living. To make an examination, the life you possess is all about being a philosopher without a college degree or any education about it. An examined life is when a person looks within themselves with honesty and truth. To be examined takes courage to enlight your inner being and to have trust in yourself. The majority of people are followers not many are leaders. Humans look for acceptance rather than independence. Independence is the leader to have the freedom to believe in miracles and the unknown. Acceptance is looking up to others to say you're good enough to fit in with their own beliefs and views. We are like sheep following a shepherd in our everyday lives when we continue to follow other people's actions to be accepted in our society today. Everyone should be their own a shepherd to be unique in their own special way. It takes courage and self-insight to examine oneself. Socrates said an examined life is requiring a sharp mind, iron self-discipline, and a formidable memory. It takes wisdom and being truthful to examine oneself. It is important to look within yourself to see imperfection and admit to it a better yourself. Then to always think you are right, and be selfish, untruthful to yourself and the people around you. To be unexamined is like living a life of a lie. Humble yourself and looking with yourself for flaws is an examined life. Is it worth living a life without examining yourself, the answer is no? It is valuable throughout life to be truthful with yourself and others to grow up and become wise with wisdom. In my personal experience, many people that are humble and humility are extremely successful and are happy humans (Spookubuk, 2012).

Meletus was a poet and the person to accuses Socrates of corrupting the youth of the city and refusing to acknowledge the gods recognized by the State and of introducing new and different gods. Socrates questioned Meletus accusations in depth to the point it dismantles all of Meletus assumptions. Socrates was in his 80s at the time and had no real concern about winning the trial or losing he wanted to accomplish one thing and that was to successfully achieve the objective of vindicating Meletus to posterity. I would take Socrates side because he wasn't there to win he was there to speak freely and truly of his belief. Socrates wasn't corrupting the children he was giving them the knowledge to freely believe whatever and whomever they pleased. Socrates had a way of speaking and questioning people to make someone say exactly what he wants for example when Socrates tricked Meletus into saying I say that you do not believe in any gods at all" and then exposes his accusation as nonsensical.

In my past life, I have always had a personal guide to happiness. Through Gods help, however, I have been guided to neglect these and live a life of happiness and joy. When I was young, my father lost his job and I was going to lose my siblings, but later realized that I was going to have to move out of my house into a strange town far from home but that's when God revealed his presence. I knew no one in the area but a few new friends. I stayed close to them and followed them to a church there. My siblings followed suit and since I lived a life of struggle, I learned the hard and bitter way, the deal with life. I started going to youth group and making friends while gaining the love to volunteer anywhere I was needed. The love of helping others fulfilled the brokenness of my life in that my relationship with God flourished. Somethings happen for a reason and I always tell myself to look on the bright side of life not to dwell in the past. Now as a college student I can no longer go to youth group but in growing up I have found a new calling and that it to become a nurse and fulfill my lifetime dream. Although I am going to school and learning how to properly take care of people that just wasn't enough so I found a new guide to happiness to follow and that is the Mercy Collegiate Society where I continue to follow God and my love to volunteer while rebuilding homes or going to nursing home to help the elderly patients etc. I agree that no one can live a great life as soon as they are ignorant of some situations and hence, will continue to make so many changes in this world for the success of my targets in life.

References

Philosophy and the Good Life A Text for Beginners. (2016). Iowa: Kendall Hunt Pub Co.

Spookubuk. (2012, May 23). Retrieved February 07, 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S24FxdvfOko