The examined life

Socrates, in Plato's Apology, says the unexamined life is not worth living for a human being. Nearby he says his small edge is that he does not think he knows what he does not know. Later posters flatten this into 'I know that I know nothing', which is not the sentence. The cards are paraphrases of the Greek. The exercise is narrower than a personality. Look at one belief you are about to act on, and say whether you have examined it or only inherited it. Not knowing is allowed.

“The unexamined life is not worth living for a human being.”

Socrates · Socratic

knowledgeselfmeaning

Paraphrase or translation

Meaning & application

“I am wiser than this man; it is likely that neither of us knows anything worthwhile, but he thinks he knows something when he does not, whereas when I do not know, neither do I think I know.”

Socrates · Socratic

knowledgeself

Paraphrase or translation

Meaning & application

Mini check

Socrates is often quoted as saying "I know that I know nothing." What does Plato's Apology (21d) actually have him say?

He does not think he knows what he does not know, which is the small edge he has over others.He knows literally nothing at all, including the fact that he is standing there and speaking.Knowledge is impossible for any person, so there is no point in continuing the inquiry.He already knows everything worth knowing, which is the edge he claims over the politicians.

Try it today

Write one belief you acted on today, and whether you had examined it or only repeated it.

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