"The unexamined life is not worth living"

[walfin]

I disagree with the premise.

First, I would say that "unexamined" in this case most probably refers to lack of examination of a living organism by itself, not by others.

There are many unexamined lives worth living. Consider a plant. It examines not itself, nor perhaps even its surroundings (save for predatory plants). But yet, it allows the carbon cycle to progress. It produces oxygen from carbon dioxide for the benefit of other living things. Can we say that a plant has no worth?

Consider the intellectually impaired. It would be a stretch to say that many of them "examined" themselves. Are their lives not worth living? They do a great many useful things, and even if they did not, the removal of one of them would remove the impact of that life from the world.

Rather, it is the self-examined life that is not worth living. It is a focus on one tiny inconsequential organism, who most probably has the faculties to examine so much more in the universe.

 

[Coolydudey]

Worth is a personal concept, and as such there is no universal answer to your "question"

 

[SLushhYYY]

You don't consider photosynthesis an examination of its surroundings? Flowers usually open to obtain maximum sunlight during the day, surely they are aware of the light feast that awaits them.

 

[Coolydudey]

Aware=/=conscious

I would say that anything not referring to humans or more generally conscious beings would be off topic regarding this quote.

For the sake of not getting into an argument, lets just refer to conscious beings.

 

[redbaron]

It's true if you ask me.

And self-reflection doesn't necessarily mean you're 'focussing on one tiny organism'.

Reflecting on your place in the cosmos, how you fit in, the impact of your actions. That's just one way in which you can consider more than just, 'a tiny organism' through self-reflection. There's other ways too.

Besides, the only thing we have control over - is ourselves. If you want to make a difference to anything, the most logical place to start is with your own actions.

I think if as a whole, people all around the world spent more time in self-reflection and consideration of this, then humanity would, as a whole be one step closer to reaching our potential (whatever that is - I dare say that humanity's potential is as high as we can collectively make it).

And yes, nearly every other organism in the world examines itself and/or its surroundings in order to complete biological processes. Plants respond to daylight. They aren't conscious or aware, but they still have the means of examining the environment and responding accordingly, within the realm of their own biological capabilities.

People who don't use (or rather try to use) their brains to their full potential are a waste of space.

 

[Hadoblado]

@walfin
A plant is not self-reflective, so while they have their place, we do not wish to live the life of a plant. The life of a vegetable is not worth living.

 

[scorpiomover]

I disagree with the premise.

First, I would say that "unexamined" in this case most probably refers to lack of examination of a living organism by itself, not by others.

In that case, think about how many smart people who go around criticising other's lives, but not their own. IMHO, that's most of them. Many of the intellectually gifted, seem to be lacking in self-examination. They believe many things. They tell others that they are wrong, and should change to their POV. But they almost never to stop to question if they could be wrong, and so they don't know if they are wrong. It's the seeing choosing to do anything but pay attention to the road ahead. They're bound to crash.

 

[walfin]

In that case, think about how many smart people who go around criticising other's lives, but not their own. IMHO, that's most of them. Many of the intellectually gifted, seem to be lacking in self-examination. They believe many things. They tell others that they are wrong, and should change to their POV. But they almost never to stop to question if they could be wrong, and so they don't know if they are wrong. It's the seeing choosing to do anything but pay attention to the road ahead. They're bound to crash.

On the contrary, I find most smart people to be full of paralysing self-doubt.

Perhaps 'tis selection bias.

 

[Brontosaurie]

In that case, think about how many smart people who go around criticising other's lives, but not their own. IMHO, that's most of them. Many of the intellectually gifted, seem to be lacking in self-examination. They believe many things. They tell others that they are wrong, and should change to their POV. But they almost never to stop to question if they could be wrong, and so they don't know if they are wrong. It's the seeing choosing to do anything but pay attention to the road ahead. They're bound to crash.

those are not the intellectually gifted. those are the intellectually successful.

put quotation marks to taste around the last two words.