Socrates and the Examined Life

Description

In the Apology, Plato’s account of Socrates’ efforts to defend himself at his trial, Socrates refuses to even consider giving up his philosophic activity, claiming that an “unexamined life” is not worth living. Indeed, Socrates is often hailed as a martyr to the cause of philosophy. But just what did Socrates mean by an “examined life”? And who, today, would think of philosophy as “a cause”—let alone be willing to martyr themselves on its behalf?

In this discussion-based philosophy course, we will examine the historical figure of Socrates. We know Socrates primarily through the reports of his contemporaries: figures like Plato, Xenophon, Aristophanes and others. Our goal is to get a more concrete sense of Socrates, the man, and what he meant by an “examined life”. Why did he feel this belief was too important to abandon, even to save his own life? Moreover, why did many of his fellow Athenians consider his philosophic activities dangerous enough to want to get rid of him? What exactly did philosophy entail in that era? The term itself was coined by the Greeks, and it seems clear that, to them, it was not merely an intellectual discipline, but a way of living—one exemplified by Socrates and others like him. What type of life was it? Is it still possible today? Are there people in our era who strive to live an “examined life”?

Required texts:

• * The Trial and Death of Socrates: Four Dialogues by Plato
•  * Memories of Socrates (Memorabilia and Apology) by Xenophon

Participants must obtain a copy of the required texts at the bookstore or library of their choice.

Details