The Examined Life and the Ricochet Glory Badge
Yesterday's debate gave rise to some startlingly good posts. In adjudicating, I looked for the following:
- Properly locating the proposition in the history of philosophy;
- Definition of the terms;
- A strong argument;
- Recognition of the counter-arguments;
- Efficient use of all 200 words;
- Wit and panache;
- Sincerity and deep engagement with one of the more profound questions of life.
You're of course welcome to offer your own criteria and suggest a different winner in this comment thread.
A problem in making a judgment is that the answers weren't independent--some excellent replies came up in response to other comments, but I think they have to be disqualified on the grounds that someone else did the work of locating the comment in its context. So I eliminated all but the comments that might stand alone as a response.
Special mention goes to katievs, who I always find rigorous and deeply humane, and to Cas Balicki for attacking the problem with especial gusto.
Aodhan is the runner-up, with this reply:
Better Socrates unsatisfied than a pig satisfied? Sure. But this is not a charter for ovine obliteration.
Even if one were, as a human adult, capable of examining one's own life, and either naturally tended or culpably chose not to do so, one's life might be still be very worth living. Think about it: Is self-examination a necessary condition for a worthwhile life (it's hardly sufficient)? I suspect that the claim that the unexamined life is not worth living is merely self-serving contention propounded by self-obsessed philosophers who, like everyone, tend to equate the ultimate good with their greatest virtue.
In general, run a mile from anyone who proposes to dictate---theoretically or practically--strong necessary conditions for living a worthwhile life. Next thing you know, they'll be wheeling granny off a cliff.
And the winner is Measure for Measure:
Many commentators are disparaging Socrates' statement without coming close to dispensing of it. Nearly every comment on this board shows some attempt at self-examination, or at the very least, examined reasons for abstaining. What can be said in reply except that the test will not go away simply because one refuses it. Furthermore, no one will pass the Socratic test by opting for a sophistic test. The test remains, in all its disturbing glory.
Socratic self-examination is not an artificial construction; it is as lasting as human nature. So long as men are born "stiff-necked" (an expression used both in Plato's Laws and the Jewish Scriptures) men will need a way to turn from the images on the wall and live according to right reason.
Christianity cannot supersede self-examination. Christianity embodies the Socratic truth that the golden age lies behind us. Today we live despite imperfection and sin. We should all know that this imperfection lies in us as surely as it did in Hitler. If so, don't we all agree on the merits of the self-examined life. If we have disagreements, they can only regard the rigor of the examination.
The test remains, in all its disturbing glory. Measure for Measure, congratulations, you passed--this test, at least. Whether any of us will pass the final exam, I do not know.
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Comments :
Jul '11
Re: The Examined Life and the Ricochet Glory Badge
Wait a minute - somebody brought up Hitler in an online discussion and they win? My understanding of the LaserWeb is that invoking Hitler in any way, shape, or form, is grounds for dismissal. From the earlier-mentioned LaserWeb.
That said, any philosopher who straps on armor, a shield, and a sword and serves in combat gets the nod in my book.
Feb '11
Re: The Examined Life and the Ricochet Glory Badge
Thanks Claire! I'm honored, and I will treasure the virtual first prize button you presented at least as long as Ricochet's data servers can memorialize it.
Jun '10
Re: The Examined Life and the Ricochet Glory Badge
Thank God! We got a winner. Now I can go back and change my life, maybe, even publish a self-help book on the subject.
Dec '10
Re: The Examined Life and the Ricochet Glory Badge
Claire, I would have liked to participate, but, at least for me I can not post from my iPad, I'm obviously not on a iPad now.
Is the comment not made worth thinking?
Jun '10
Re: The Examined Life and the Ricochet Glory Badge
Hey. I missed this one. I had an answer that combined the thoughts of Calvin and Hobbes, Paul Rahe, Sid Vicious, and Jerry Lee Lewis. And because I was doing something else yesterday, I had no chance to share those insights.
Thus, this feature should become a regular (say once a month) with topics to be chosen by Claire.
Re: The Examined Life and the Ricochet Glory Badge
tabula rasa: Hey. I missed this one. I had an answer that combined the thoughts of Calvin and Hobbes, Paul Rahe, Sid Vicious, and Jerry Lee Lewis. And because I was doing something else yesterday, I had no chance to share those insights.
Thus, this feature should become a regular (say once a month) with topics to be chosen by Claire. · Aug 29 at 8:06am
I enjoyed it a lot too. I'll try to do it every Sunday.
Sep '10
Re: The Examined Life and the Ricochet Glory Badge
Is the comment not made worth thinking?
Only if a tree falls.
Jun '10
Re: The Examined Life and the Ricochet Glory Badge
Claire Berlinski, Ed.
tabula rasa: Hey. I missed this one. I had an answer that combined the thoughts of Calvin and Hobbes, Paul Rahe, Sid Vicious, and Jerry Lee Lewis. And because I was doing something else yesterday, I had no chance to share those insights.
Thus, this feature should become a regular (say once a month) with topics to be chosen by Claire. · Aug 29 at 8:06am
I enjoyed it a lot too. I'll try to do it every Sunday. · Aug 29 at 8:48am
Let's call it yenta Sunday!
Feb '11
Re: The Examined Life and the Ricochet Glory Badge
I was waiting for the prize to be upgraded to expense-paid round trip tix to Turkey for a fine and festive lunch @ a fashionable Istanbul bistro with Ms. Berlinski-- before submitting the winning essay --- although not sure who would be covering the tab here. Well, maybe next time.
Dec '10
Re: The Examined Life and the Ricochet Glory Badge
Claire, I must protest this decision (what a prima donna I am). The 200 word limit damaged my chances as I am the only one who properly answered the question.
The phrase "A House Divided Against Itself" is nowhere defined formally in anyone's philosophy. To directly attach philosophical meaning to it, will simply produce random results unconnected and unjudgable. I interpreted the phrase correctly as a poetic turn of phrase by Abraham Lincoln. I then used the Historical Context to define what Lincoln was actually talking about. The philosophical note was when I mentioned that at the root of the slavery conflict there was a deontological ethical problem. A purely deontological ethical problem makes compromise almost impossible.
I could not further explain this because I had only 200 words to work with. Instead I was happy to accept a lesser result. An extremely important and wise lesson to learn. If you push the internal conflict too far, then you risk being destroyed by an enemy that simply waits for you to exhaust yourself and then comes in for the kill.
Once again, I stand pat by my first post. (prima donna, prima donna).