During his trial in Athens around 399 BCE, the renowned Greek philosopher Socrates declared that “the unexamined life is not worth living” (ὁ δὲ ἀνεξέταστος βίος οὐ βιωτὸς ἀνθρώπῳ). He had been accused of impiety and corrupting the youth through his relentless questioning of the Athenian beliefs. His defiance ultimately led to his death sentence.
It is pertinent to examine the reasons behind his stance and unwillingness to cease his inquiry into various facets of life. It wasn’t mere bravado that made him defiant but his commitment to εὐδαιμονία (virtuous well-being). While humans can exist without ever engaging in rational scrutiny of their lives, such a life is devoid of wisdom and moral growth and can be equated with that of animals.
An unexamined life breeds profound risks, such as –
- Ignorance masquerading as wisdom: One may cling to irrational beliefs and act based on biases, dogmas and grudges. An ignorant populace is easily manipulated by propaganda.
- Erosion of moral values: In the absence of rational introspection, one may be guided entirely by one’s whims and fancies. Socrates argues that virtue stems from knowledge. Hence, lack of self-reflection tends to atrophy virtues like justice and courage.
- Existential despair: In our chaotic world, lack of discernment leaves one vulnerable to the nefarious tactics of the immoral elements of our society, which fuel fear, uncertainty and dread and use these to their advantage.
- Emotional hollowness: Relentless pursuit of resources and pleasure without contemplation leads to diminishing returns in terms of material happiness. A man on an endless quest for physical possessions and vain glory is bound to get crushed by the weight of his own never-ending desires.
It is, therefore, crucial to examine one’s life calmly and rationally, to ensure that one doesn’t suffer the disappointment of chasing pointless goals and the despair caused by the lack of a higher purpose beyond physicality.