“An
Unexamined Life Isn’t
Worth Living.”
>
This is a very
interesting quote,
and it can be
perceived many
ways. To >me,
this >quote
has a good message
and morale behind
it. One
definition for the
word >examine
is >‘To
determine the
aptitude or skill of
by questioning’
Unexamine then, >could
be seen as >not
questioning aptitude
or skill of
something, or even
not measuring it’s >worth. >Therefore,
this quote could be
interpreted as
meaning that a life
where you >do
not test and >question
yourself of
your worth, and do
not investigate your
own talents, >natural
ability, >and
learning capacity is
not worth living. In
simpler terms, by
saying >this,
Socrates might >be
implying in that you
must both question
your decisions, and
learn about >yourself, >understand
yourself, and try to
expand your mind to
it’s fullest in
order >to get
the most >out
of life. If you do
not understand
yourself and try to
gather as much >information
as you >can ,
your life isn’t
worth it. At the
same time you must
not be overly >confident,
but must, >in
knowing yourself and
having foresight of
you future,
carefully consider >all
of your >choices
and use your
knowledge of what
you know about
yourself and what
you >want to >do
with your life to
your advantage in
your decisions. You
also must think >about
your life >in
the past and be
careful to note all
of your mistakes in
order to prevent >repeating
them. > >
Another way that a
person may interpret
this statement is
this. A second >meaning >for
the word examine is
‘ To inspect or
analyze (a person
place thing or >situation)
in great >detail’
With this
definition, you can
also come back to
what I said above >about
how I >thought;
to inspect or
analyze yourself in
detail, including
your mind, >your
talents, natural >ability,
and your previous
mistakes and life
past. It all comes
back to the >same
definition. >So,
using the quote, “An
unexamined life isn’t
worth living” it
can be >changed
slightly >from
the first
translation I made
if you use the
second definition
for >examine
and >unexamine.
It can be change
from the first
translation “A
life where you do >not
think about >and
question your own
worth,
investigate
your talents,
natural ability, >and
learning >capacity
as well as carefully
study your past
life, mistakes, and
plan for >the
future isn’t >worth
living.” to
“ A life not
carefully analyzed
and inspected in
detail >isn’t
worth living.” >With
both of these put
together I have come
up with a joined
statement that >says
it all >from
my perspective.
“A life
without thought isn’t
worth living.” To
me, >this and
all of >the
above is what those
few words mean. > >
By Lauralina Desaine
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