Unit 1 Philosophy Paper

Unit 1 Philosophy Paper

In a 750-1000 word essay, please respond to the following:

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). 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?

Finally, in support of your argument, please refer to specific passages in the video (Alain de Botton’s “Socrates on Self-Confidence—Philosophy: A Guide to Happiness,” available on YouTube via the link below) as well as to the textbook readings and your own life experiences and observations.

Socrates on Self-Confidence—Philosophy: A Guide to Happiness

Solution Preview

The Apology is an account of the speech which was presented by Socrates during his trial. The account was written by Plato who was one of the Socrates students. In modern perspective, the speech given during the trial was not a form of an apology but a defense. It is clear that Socrates was trying to defend himself and the conduct that was in question since he had been charged with the lack of the recognition of the gods, managing to corrupt the youth in Athens and the invention of new deities which was not as per the Athens regulations (Russon, 2009). 

(1,067 words)