Free Essay on Philosophical Reflections: Examined Life, Human Nature, and Self-Identity Formation

Lesson 1

The Examined Life and the Unexamined Life

Philosophy is built on the foundation of asking numerous questions to test one's reasoning. The distinction between the examined life and the unexamined life arises when an individual asks questions to get an acceptable answer that meets some logical criteria. Socrates noted that living an unexamined life involves accepting things without asking necessary questions (White, 2007). Still, he believed that a good life is worth living since it is not characterized by ignorance.

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Notably, living an examined life is defined by being in constant wonderment. Socrates lived an examined life where he could be in wonderment and question things to receive satisfactory answers to his belief system (White, 2007). Living an unexamined life involves a situation where people's upbringing and environmental surroundings influence their views and beliefs. Understandably, the distinction is important since it provides individuals with an opportunity to choose a life that satisfies their belief system and not one laced with pervasive ignorance.

Plato's Myth of the Cave

Plato's Myth of the Cave is a concept developed by the philosopher to reflect on the difference between the nature of belief and knowledge (Huard, 2007). The myth highlights that there are prisoners chained in a cave and placed behind a fire. People carrying puppets are between the prisoners and the fire, thereby casting a shadow on the wall. Plato indicates that one of the prisoners could ultimately become free, especially after seeing the fire and realizing that the cast shadows are not real.

Upon escaping from the cave, the prisoner realizes that the outside world is more real than life in the cave (Huard, 2007). Worth noting is that the cave demonstrates the illusion, the chains represent what holds people back from exploring, and the escaping prisoner represents the philosopher. The myth is relevant to living the examined life because it evokes the importance of breaking from things that deny individuals from exploring the outside world.

Traditional Aspects of the Process of Living the Examined Life

The first aspect is determining the "Why" by asking the "why" question to enable an individual to understand the key motivation behind making a particular decision. For instance, the question of "Why do I need to do a certain job?" helps an individual understand whether what they are doing is for them or following certain dictates of society (White, 2007). Also, determining your currency by being truthful, honest, and loving will undoubtedly drive people to live the examined life.

Additionally, exercising self-control provides the opportunity to deeply understand the chosen path through intense self-examination. Self-control plays an instrumental role in incorporating positive pleasures and eliminating negative ones (White, 2007). Moreover, determines if one's life reflects held values. Undeniably, this will enable individuals to review their lives and establish if they align with their values. Equally important, determining "What is Truly Just" involves developing an understanding of the unwritten rules before opposing them if they are deemed unjust (White, 2007).

Elements of the Socratic Method

The Socratic Method comprises three key elements: systematic questioning, inductive reasoning, and universal definitions (Boghossian & Lindsay, 2018). In this method, systematic questioning and inductive reasoning are combined to derive a universal definition. The key functions of the universal definition are to identify the problem and build the necessary knowledge. The method is instrumental in introducing a conversation that not only result in all answers but also helps invoke new questions for deeper understanding (White, 2007).

Still, the method aids people to become more open-minded and bolster their desire to learn. More fundamentally, the Socratic Method has a great application in movies and educational environments. The method's contemporary application is to arrive at a deeper understanding of a particular topic rather than condemning a student (White, 2007). The primary goal is to expand the knowledge and not necessarily to win an argument.

Role of Questions in Defining an Examined Life

Questions have proved to be integral in defining the examined life since they help people reflect on their thoughts in different dimensions. Further, questions assist an individual in reviewing their purpose and values before accepting a certain belief. More importantly, asking questions allows individuals to know the underlying truth and understand complex ideas before arriving at a decision (White, 2007).

Additionally, questioning often helps uncover assumptions and analyze concepts to enhance the chances of getting a deeper understanding. Besides, questions play the role of helping people differentiate what they know from what they have little knowledge of (White, 2007). Also, controlling discussions and achieving logical consequences of thought are often supported by in-depth questioning.

Lesson 2

Traditional Greek View of Human Nature

Human nature is the view of humans' general abilities and their capabilities when they are at their worst and best. The traditional Greek philosophers believed that plants and animals share both biological and sensory purposes. The Greek philosophers maintained that man's purpose is the part of his soul that defines reason (White, 2007). Plato described the human soul as having three distinct parts: appetite, spirit, and reason. He observed that appetite represents desires, while spirit refers to aggressive emotions.

Aristotle took a broader view of human nature by highlighting rationality as the key defining feature. He asserted that it is rationality that separates man from other creatures in the universe. The traditional Greek philosophers collectively agreed that reason is the driving force of human beings, and its perfect use constitutes the purpose of human nature (White, 2007). They further argued that the perfection of reason does not impede the development of physical capabilities.

Christian View of Human Nature

Genesis, the first book of the Bible acknowledged that man was made in God's image. Further, Christians emphasized the integral role played by the will, which is the inherent ability to distinguish good from evil (White, 2007). St. Augustine demonstrated that humans are always attracted to committing evil because they are always focused on satisfying their lower desires. According to Augustine, humans sin because of the inability to control their appetite and spirit (White, 2007).

Christians observed that appetite and spirit are shared with animals, while rationality is divine. The Christian view sprung from the Greek view of human nature since it considers rationality as the feature embedded in God's image. Early church thinkers believed that the successful execution of the religious duty to love and serve God could make man avoid evil and choose the good (White, 2007). The Christian differs from the Greek view because the former underscored the importance of the will while the latter emphasized the importance of perfect reasoning.

Implications of Darwin's Principle of Natural Selection

Evolutionary biologists demonstrated that the principle of natural selection greatly influenced human nature (White, 2007). Contemporary proponents of natural selection asserted that humans are peculiar composites of evolved stardust. The evolution theorists suggested that individual variations are a result of complex causal patterns. According to Darwin, it is not only the physical human bodies that evolve from the lower forms but also their language, intelligence, morality, emotions, and religion (White, 2007).

Darwin observed that the characteristics of populations always undergo gradual change and can ultimately result in new species. Undeniably, the theory of evolution has shown the importance of natural sciences to expand people's knowledge of human nature. Darwin's view of culture as the key determinant of religious beliefs and ethical values greatly influenced human nature's collective understanding.

Significance of Existentialists' Claim

The viewpoint that existence precedes essence is the central foundation of existentialism. According to existentialists, humans use their consciousness to determine their life's purpose since they do not have an inherent identity (White, 2007). Existentialism challenges the traditional view that a particular thing's essence is more important than its existence. Existentialists maintain that human beings are self-defining and are always condemned to choose their essence (White, 2007).

The existentialists' claim is significant because it illuminates the fact that individuals' essence cannot be pre-determined but can be influenced by how such individuals live their lives. Equally important, existentialism focuses on the idea of human existence and the underlying conditions of the same existence. The central theme of existentialism is hinged on the ability to make people aware of their conditions and adequately enhance their preparation to handle them.

Lesson 3

Atomistic and Social Views on the Forming of Self

The atomistic viewpoint is premised on the fact that human identity consists of a certain core self that can be influenced by culture (White, 2007). It is this view that highlights individuals' wish to exist in a particular historical period. Proponents of the atomistic view observed that human beings have a specific ego at their core. Descartes highlighted that there exists a core self that is autonomous of the historical-social context. The social view is anchored on the foundation that the self is the result of social-historical forces (White, 2007).

Notably, the social-historical context represents the forces that converge to shape individuals at any moment. Some ancient Greek philosophers, such as Aristotle, believed that human beings are social creatures by nature. Their affiliation shapes the human characteristics to certain social groups (White, 2007). During the Romantic Era in the early nineteenth century, it was believed that the self was a result of social forces.

Influences of the Historical-Social Context

The historical-social context is built on the belief that human beings' sense of identity is determined by their self-knowledge about their origin (White, 2007). Still, self-knowledge demonstrates the human capacity to understand that they have distinct mental states, thoughts, and attitudes. Ancient Greek philosophers argued that historical-social forces can entrench human self-awareness and that the self is independent of any material thing (White, 2007).

In the same vein, historical-social context influences the formation of individuals' identity, which is shaped by culture. Moreover, the domination of a particular culture over another can create the experience of loss of self and shame. Undeniably, these experiences spring from conditions beyond the belief of people from the dominant culture.

Experience of Self-Respect when Belonging to a Valued Culture

Every individual has unique thoughts, behaviors, and emotions that dictate their overall feelings. Understandably, the experience of self-respect arises when individuals feel that they belong to the dominant culture that is equally valued. Undoubtedly, culture plays an instrumental role in shaping the behavior of individuals. As Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel noted, the social context significantly influences a person's identity (White, 2007).