PHIL 1000 Midterm paper topic 1 Socrates philosophy of life can be examined through the understanding of some of his

own concepts. He is known for saying the unexamined life is not worth living while most would not understand what is met by unexamined. Through further understanding of the ideas and beliefs of Socrates one can examine their life. By use of phyche, intellectualism, techne, and virtue this can be accomplished. Which leads to another well-known saying of Socrates, that of his famous motto Know Thyself. The phyche as most would tend to think of as just being the brain or thoughts of a person. This is stemmed from the fact that of the root word for Psychology comes from the Greek word phyche. With modern day Psychologists focusing on this head brain while neglecting the body brain of the individual. Socrates idea of phyche incorporated both of them.1 To combine them both into one type of phyche there has to be a kind of wisdom or intellectualism present. Intellectualism is a particular type of wisdom that Socrates believed emphasized on beliefs. These beliefs are what control behaviors that people conduct on a daily basis. Leading to knowing what is good and evil and not knowingly doing evil. Though Socrates implies We are psychologically incapable of knowing what is good and not doing it. 2

1. A History of Ancient Philosophy I: From the Origins to Socrates. Reale 2. Archetypes of Wisdom an Introduction to Philosophy. Soccio

The way that something is done or achieved is a technique or techne a skill, or way of conduction. This can be as simple as knowing how to build a house yet trying to cut the lumber with a hammer. The knowledge may be there but the way to do it is lacking. It also works in reverse, building a house without any knowing other than how to cut wood and hammer nails. The house might stand and look ok, but the amount of strength it has and the number of flaws is a guess. To have virtue someone would think that would be to be virtuous, morally excellent. To have virtue there has to be a level of techne. This textbook, educational regurgitation type of writing with references is garbage. I am now just going to freestyle per say (hopefully not transitioning into a rant of some kind) as to what my understandings and thoughts on knowing myself. Along with Socrates philosophy of life as I feel it fits the way I actually do things in my own life the best out of the given topics. Socrates motto of Know Thyself brings many thoughts to mind. First off for me is one of my favorite questions that is asked all the time by people. What do you do? Such a simple question that everyone has been asked before in some point in time. While everyone I have asked that question to responds with their job title. Very Interesting to say that the title to the job they hold is such a defining factor in peoples lives. For me when asked what I do I dont truly have an answer to it. In what can best explain what you do in life? Is it as simple as a job, how one carries themselves through out each day, or is it taking care of family?

1. A History of Ancient Philosophy I: From the Origins to Socrates. Reale 2. Archetypes of Wisdom an Introduction to Philosophy. Soccio

Very few people that have asked me this question are ever satisfied with my answer. I do what I do. Experience life, take in and observe things from nature to other peoples actions. Having conversations with complete strangers is like a past time for me. I treat each of them as though they are better than I until they prove me otherwise. Leaving every conversation learning something, be it something that changes the views I have or further supports them. Such things have made me observe that in a large area with multiple groups of people they all have the same basic conversations. I will hear one group talking about a topic and over time that topic will move from group to group. Subconscious influence can be interesting, much like guided questions while talking. On moral grounds and examining them it has come to my understanding t hat people may have good morals that are merely a set of defined rules for what is acceptable in society. This falls into Socrates philosophy of no one knowingly does evil. The evil is defined by the society we live in, so is there really technically anything truly known as morals? Take neurotic holding patterns for instance. Young kids dont have any of these ye t so many adults do. All are learned from how to conduct ourselves in society, while some might argue the moral standing of such things and may just classify them as unacceptable behaviors. As for me and knowing myself I could go and list off what I have done in life, bombing out of college for the first time 14 years ago. Continuing to work a dead end job for a year and joining the military. Ending up with a screwed up back and chronic sciatic and femoral nerve pain, letting it dictate what I do in life. Working construction as an electrician, getting laid off and going back to college for a second round of classes, with more drive and motivation than
1. A History of Ancient Philosophy I: From the Origins to Socrates. Reale 2. Archetypes of Wisdom an Introduction to Philosophy. Soccio

the first time. Having the physical pain increase to levels that I believe you said not mind getting hit by a bus. Getting to the point of not being able to physically stand from a loss of control my leg, pushing me back into the gym to either fix the problem or end up in a wheel chair. Are these the things that define who I am? I like to think they may shape who I am, but do not define me. The pure mental power and will I believe have a greater impact then just physical or accomplishments that can be written on a piece of paper. The way I go about daily life and interact with others and who I surround myself with also plays a vital part in the Know Thyself aspect of my life. Do I fully understand Socrates saying of the unexamined life is not worth living I have no idea. I like to think that I have and am currently examining my life while looking forward to continuing to do so. Can anyone fully say they have fully examined their life while there is still life to be lived in the future? In the current time possibly, but nobody knows what the future will hold and the further beliefs that can come about. There is an unmeasurable amount to the level of magnitude which the modification or expulsion of current beliefs that the future holds.

1. A History of Ancient Philosophy I: From the Origins to Socrates. Reale 2. Archetypes of Wisdom an Introduction to Philosophy. Soccio