Student Question
How is philosophy related to life?
Quick answer:
Philosophy is related to life because it is the study of human existence and the best way to life ethically. Moral philosophy is especially relevant to people seeking to live a better life. All of philosophy is derived from human experiences and insights.
Philosophy is related to life in a general sense in that it takes its raw material from life as it is lived. At its best, it carefully examines certain aspects of human existence to better understand them. To be sure, philosophy isn't in the business of providing answers to life's most burning questions. But in encouraging us to examine our lives and how we interact with others, it can make us stop and think about who and what we are. It also prompts us to consider and plan how we can achieve the kind of life we want to lead.
Moral philosophy is especially useful in this regard. The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates famously said that the unexamined life is not worth living, and this in itself is a classic expression of moral philosophy. It relates to the fundamental question of the good life, a question that preoccupied Socrates for...
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most of his life.
For Socrates, philosophy wasn't an academic subject to be studied. It was a way of life, an activity, something you did. Socrates lived his philosophy, heading out into the streets of Athens on a daily basis to question and challenge people about their understandings of concepts such as justice.
He also died by his philosophy, stoutly defending himself before a jury of his peers over trumped-up charges of blasphemy and corrupting youth. Even after being sentenced to death Socrates continued to live by his philosophy. He refused to escape despite having the chance to do so. Instead, he chose to accept his punishment—death by hemlock—and was resolute to the last in his deepest moral and philosophical convictions.