the examined life

E190152

The examined life is a philosophical ideal, famously advocated by Socrates, that emphasizes continual self-reflection and critical inquiry into one’s beliefs, actions, and values as essential for a meaningful existence.

All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
the examined life canonical 1

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Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Socratic concept
ethical ideal
philosophical ideal
aimsAt living well
moral improvement
self-knowledge
wisdom
associatedWith Socrates
ancient Greek philosophy
critical inquiry
ethics
meaningful existence
moral philosophy
self-knowledge
self-reflection
virtue
contrastedWith unexamined life
coreIdea a good and meaningful life requires ongoing examination of one’s beliefs and actions
emphasizes awareness of one’s ignorance
continual self-reflection
critical examination of actions
critical examination of beliefs
critical examination of values
intellectual honesty
moral responsibility
famousFormula related to the claim "the unexamined life is not worth living"
historicalContext Socrates’ defense speech at his trial in Athens
influenced Western ethical thought
existentialist views of authentic living
modern practices of reflective self-assessment
method philosophical dialogue
rational argument
self-critique
systematic questioning
normativeClaim people ought to examine their lives
opposes dogmatism
intellectual complacency
uncritical conformity
relatedConcept authenticity
autonomy
moral self-scrutiny
philosophical inquiry
practical wisdom
requires dialogue and discussion
questioning inherited beliefs
testing assumptions through reason
willingness to revise beliefs
sourceText Apology of Socrates
surface form: Plato’s Apology
valueJudgment life without examination lacks full worth

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Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Apology theme the examined life