Plato`s Apology Essay, Research Paper

After reading Plato?s account of Socrates defense, the Apology, I was

completely blown away by the power of Socrates words and ideas. The reading left

me thinking about how I felt regarding what he had said about virtue, truth and

the quest for both. In class, we discussed Socrates search for virtue and we

touched on the topic of this paper: the reasons Socrates believed that "the

unexamined life is not worth living for man". It is my opinion that he is

correct in that view and in this paper I intend to show you why. Like many

philosophers alive in his time, it was Socrates belief that virtue could only be

attained through examination. Only through exploration can you really understand

what virtue is, and begin to act virtuously. Understanding, as well as sharing,

this information was very important goal to Socrates. The significance of

examining and understanding our lives is far greater than one might think.

Understanding and comprehending the behavior of friends, as well as of

ourselves, enables us to have empathy and compassion for them. And, allows us

not to stand in judgment, which, in turn, allows us to live the moral, noble

lives that Socrates spoke of. Another belief of Socrates that supports his view

is the idea that evil derives from ignorance and the failure to investigate or

explore peoples actions. I believe this to be true, also. This idea also

supports his beliefs on death. Socrates was not well liked because he explored

his ignorance, and was eventually put to death because of it. Marie Curie once

said, "Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood."

That could sum up a great deal of Socrates position in the Apology: why he was

not shaken by death, why he spoke of his relationship with the gods, and

possibly even why he felt the unexamined life is not worth living.