Why is it so important, according to socrates, that death is better than that
2007-02-11 12:22:59 · 7 answers · asked by bippidibopiddi 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Two important parts of the "examined life"--(1) a yardstick to compare to, and (2) actually examining it. As for death being better, that is either hyperbole (great exaggeration) for rhetorical effect or the realm of one who is truly empty and has no purpose or dream for their life.
2007-02-11 12:30:33 · answer #1 · answered by Rabbit 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't have do be a deep, philosophical examination. It means that you evaluate your actions, and your motivations for the things you do. It means not just living day to day without examining what experience you have had. It doesn't mean that you have to be serious all the time and never have fun. It means, asking yourself 'am I doing this out of habit, or to please someone, or because I am afraid of upsetting someone?' The Socratic method involved learning by asking questions. The examined life means being aware of the consequences of your actions, and acting accordingly.
2007-02-11 12:38:11 · answer #2 · answered by roscoedeadbeat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At his trial in 399BC by the citizens of Athens, Socrates declared that from his incessant questioning, he found his contemporaries spend their lives pursuing various goals -- money, ambition, pleasure, physical security -- without asking themselves if these were important. Unless they raised such a question and seriously sought the answer -- through careful reflection, alert observation and critical arguments -- they would not know if they were doing the right thing.
They might be wasting their energy, time and money in useless or even dangerous pursuits.
How do we believe what we believe? How do we arrive at our underlying set of beliefs (which includes assumptions, prejudices and convictions)? It is important that we examine the process to determine if we have acquired the correct set of beliefs because they influence our thinking and motivate our action.
Consider this: Suppose what the Buddha had said is true, then what we think and believe mould our conduct and action, which in turn determine our future and our next life. How awful it would be to be reborn as a cockroach or a demon in hell, all because of absurd, dangerous beliefs and an evil lifestyle right now.
The Buddha says: "All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts from an evil thought, suffering follows him as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage.
"All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts from a pure thought, joy follows him as his own shadow that never leaves him." Dhammapada 1, 2
Time out: So, instead of merely possessing an unorganised mass (and mess) of opinions and assumptions, we take time out to scrutinise, re-formulate and organise them into a coherent, meaningful and practical system of right views. In the process, we discard those that are patently false, immoral and dangerous. From such a deliberate process we frame our world view, set our goals, and conduct our lives. -- Francis Chin
2007-02-11 12:49:22 · answer #3 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The unexamined life is not free. Philosophy, to Socrates represents both freedom and dignity. It is the dignity to rise above the state of the beast. And it is also the liberty to examine the institutions and culture in which we are born and to judge their value. The unexamined life, is a life lived out as an automaton. Philosophy is meant to awaken us from slumber, much as the men who were taken out of the cavern in Plato's Republic.
2007-02-11 12:38:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because within an examined life, one can find meaning and purpose and notice him/herself making progress in one's life goals. For example, (in a rather simplistic example) if I am taking on being more generous and kind in this lifetime, I can notice whether I AM infact acting in that fashion, or perhaps being selfish, stingy and even mean. If I have truly taken on that purpose or life goal, I would welcome opportunities to be kind and giving.
Why Socrates may have said that death is better may be because it would be far easier to simply be in the afterworld, than to continue to call myself to BE as I have given my word to be. What a great question, Thanks!
2007-02-11 12:37:29 · answer #5 · answered by mountain woman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The examiner. The Will is positive, the Judgment is negative.
2007-02-11 12:40:46 · answer #6 · answered by Psyengine 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's more of Socrates' supercilious nonsense. He had no appreciation of a poor working man's life.
2007-02-11 12:35:33 · answer #7 · answered by Sophist 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋