People often find the need to seek the meaning of life. They feel as though there has to be more to life or that they are blinded to something vital in the grand scheme of things. Different people use different means, some go on grand journeys hoping to find some sort of wisdom in their experience. This is where we find a parallel in the lives of Chris McCandless and Siddhartha, the main characters of Into the wild by Jon Krakauer and Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. In both stories the main character lives a well off life but becomes dissatisfied by societal conventions.
In the book Educated by Tara Westover, the author tells the story of her upbringing in an extremely restrictive and abusive household. Her father was paranoid about the government and put her in harm's way while also denying her access to education. Tara is not allowed to go to school, constricting her ability to learn about the world around her and what life truly is. When Tara finally rebels and goes to university, she discovers that education is what truly motivates her and gives her the opportunity to grow. In Man's Search For Meaning by Viktor Franl, the author argues that one can only find meaning in life by becoming aware of their responsibilities.
Another philosopher is Socrates And became renowned for his contribution to the field of ethics. He was sentenced to death by Hemlock poisoning in 399 B.C., he accepted this judgement rather than fleeing into exile. When he was poisoned he said the “unexamined life is not worth living” which refers to a life lived by rote under the rules of
1. One of Morrie’s aphorisms says that“ So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning."
Anish Yonjan Philosophy 1301-73426 Prof. Marcos Arandia Feb. 19, 2017 Explain and evaluate Socrates' claim in the Apology that "the unexamined life is not worth living for a human being," and briefly analyze and discuss the particular method he uses to discover the truth (i.e., dialectics or the Socratic Method), using at least two examples from Plato's Euthyphro and/or Apology. Do you agree that a human being cannot live a fully satisfying life if he or she remains ignorant, like the slavish prisoners in Plato's cave? Why or why not? In the Plato’s Apology, Socrates claims that the “unexamined life is not worth living for a human being”.
With those two teachings, comes another one of his more deeply meaningful quotes “an unexamined life is not worth living for a human being”. This statement by Socrates is one that gets a human being to think about what he meant by what an examined life or unexamined life is. His quote is telling people to go through life and analyze and question things, because if not they have not lived life the way it should be for a human being. Without examining life, life would become a stagnant environment, never evolving from past cultures and past ideals.
For those unexamined life may be not worth living to a person (Plato 38b). Socrates asserts that as much part in athenian pop culture may be essential as
Morgan Freeman once said, “Learning how to be still, to really be still and let life happen - that stillness becomes a radiance” (Freeman). One must be silent in order to collect thoughts and determine what a person should establish to hold meaning in his life. Professor of Engineering at Stanford University, Bernard Roth has written a self- help book connected to letting life happen. The Achievement Habit is about achieving dreams and improving the self and “directly gain understanding and experience about personal issues that matter to them” (Roth). Roth, in chapter 1, “Nothing is What You Think It Is,” argues that people establish their own meaning and others should not judge people too soon, or ever.
Socrates & Snowden Socrates was a true believer that true pleasure only comes when individuals live a moral life. He believed that an individual’s inner life, or the soul, is the most important part of life. Each person must keep his or her soul healthy, by seeking truth, self-knowledge, justice, and goodness. Socrates believed that any soul in search of fame, wealth, and power becomes ignorant, sickly, and weak (Claudia, 270). He was concerned with strengthening his inner self by examining and criticizing it.
In Queen Elizabeth’s speech to the troops at Tilbury, she uses a lot of motivational factors when talking to her kingdom in a time of worry and upheaval. When addressing the topic of war to one’s people, it is a difficult subject to try and put into a positive matter. It is illustrated in the speech when Queen Elizabeth uses words of compassion and love to her publics to try and make the solider feel better about fighting for their country as well as shows a relationship she has with her people. Another useful tactic she uses is very uplifting and motivational words, such as “faithful” and “loving.” It is also demonstrated when she tries to put herself in the shoes of the warrior who could be facing death for their own county.
One’s outlook on life can be dictated by their importance of
The existence and continual study of Socrates’ philosophy regardless of differing accounts is astonishing in itself since it survived not through the specific philosopher, but through other people. Which is a testament of the impact that a man, such as Socrates, can make. When we think of Plato, who is regarded as a father of western philosophy, we are quick to think of his major work The Republic, his student Aristotle, and his writing on Socrates. (We think of his writings on Socrates as mere footnotes in philosophical thought without examining them.) “Nothing comes from nothing,” Parmenides proudly claimed, and this philosophical doctrine applies to Plato’s thought.
Socrates is quoted as stating, “An unexamined life is a life not worth living” (38 a). Socrates was a founding figure of western philosophy, and a stable for many ideas. He lived in Athens, Greece teaching his students, like Plato, questioning politics, ethical choices, and many other things in Greek society. In the Trial and death of Socrates: Four Dialogues by Plato, it explores the abstract questioning Socrates had towards many of the normal social properties, which led to his trial, resulting in his death. The most important aspects discussed in the dialogues is the questioning of what is pious and impious, what it means to be wise, and good life.
However, people have failed to find the ultimate solution in a constant cycle. On the other hand, some people find life meaningless. These people do not seek any element in life, nor do they search for the true meaning of life. . Kafka, the author of the story “The Metamorphosis”, illustrates the concept of meaningless of life through the usage of the character Gregor Samsa, who faces a crisis where he is transformed into a bug-life figure and gradually doubts his own existence.
Life is a miracle; it’s a thing that can be difficult to understand. You are the one who has a responsibility to create your life, and your decisions will decide how your life will turn out. It might be hard for some people to fulfill this responsibility. Thomas Ziehe is a theorist of the postmodern society; his theory is about the individuals’ choices of life is considered by the improved reflection. Everyone has an enormous possibility trying to live and accomplish the best version of life.
