Socrates on Self-Confidence—Philosophy: A Guide to Happiness

 

In a 750-1000 word essay, please respond to the following:

Explain and evaluate Socrates’ claim in the Apology that “the unexamined life is not worth living for a human being,” and briefly analyze and discuss the particular method he uses to discover the truth (i.e., dialectics or the Socratic Method). Do you agree that a human being cannot live a fully satisfying life if he or she remains ignorant, like the slavish prisoners in Plato’s cave? Why or why not?

Finally, in support of your argument, you are required refer to specific passages in the video (Alain de Botton’s “Socrates on Self-Confidence—Philosophy: A Guide to Happiness,” available on YouTube via the link below). Including at least two MLA-formatted citations to the assigned textbook readings.

 

Sample Solution

elebration, one in which he was invited but reluctant to attend. Being able to see everyone happy with each other’s company, as well as having the urge to play along with the family game, Scrooge finds a new way to visualize the gathering. Lastly, the ghost is able to broaden Scrooges view on the homeless by introducing Ignorance and Want, which are two malnourished children, (C 49). This scene is significant because after denying the homelessness’s existence and being left in an unusual place, Scrooge does not understand what he did to be abandoned and realizes his mistakes. The third ghost, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is last, leading Scrooge through a series of events that pertain to the death of an unnamed man. Throughout this scene, the ghost displays individuals from his town discussing the death of this man. Having no respect for the dead man, he witnesses others stealing the dead man’s belongings and has very harsh feelings for their actions, (C 51). After constant begging to find out who had passed, he finds himself in a churchyard with the ghost pointing to a gravestone with his own name engraved on the top, (C 62). This is one of the most important scenes of the novel because it shows Ebenezer Scrooges character transformation to honor Christmas, do all that is right and continue to live in the past, present and future or he will die after all, (C 63). Overall, these scenes are relevant to romanticism because while Ebenezer Scrooges natural emotions are revealed through these events, the ghosts are also represented as the “hero’s” who assist him in finally seeking his true identity of being whole after all.

The gothic novel, Wuthering Heights, written by Emily Bronte, depicts romanticism in similar sorts of ways by having differences in character development through their emotions. Starting off with Cathy and Hareton, they are characterized through the use of many emotions to become the “whole person.” Although Cathy initially ridiculed Hareton’s illiteracy, she grew to show acceptance and adoration within his character. She did this by teaching Hareton how to read and then becomes whole by having intellect, (W 221). This is important in the novel because without emotions, a person is considered to be inhumane, but Cathy disproves this by being whole. Secondly, Heathcliff’s character is described as one who is a laborer that is forced to work and one whose emotions tend to show less as the novel progresses. However, this does not stop him from keeping a close relationship with Cathy. Their relationship turns from childhood friends to lovers who are passionate about what they have until one day when Cathy must recuperate from a dog bite at the Grange and gains feelings for another man named Edgar, (W 35). After five weeks had passed, she becomes captivated by Edgars love which perplexes the relationship between Cathy and Heathcliff, (W 37). Regardless of her love for Heathcliff, she makes the decision to become engaged to Edgar which drove Heathcliff to run away and show his true colors by returning to seek revenge on those who have mistreated him, (W 59). Before becoming ill, Cathy resembles her love and hope for his return by stating that she is Heathcliff and by showing emotions that she has always had an interest in him, (W 60). Eventually prompted by Heathcliff’s return, he states that he cannot live this life alone and begged her to remain alive, (W 120). Heathcliff also shows his love for Cathy by always worrying about her and in the end, coming back to her while she is on her deathbed, (W 120). This scene is important because throughout the novel, Cathy expresses emotion whether it being with teaching Hareton how to read or her emotions dealing with Edgar and Heathcliff. Overall, these scenes portray romanticism by expressing the characters ways of experiencing and viewing the world through emotional intensity and displaying events.

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