Life is a gift, but it is not always easy.
We can do more than exist or merely survive.
Life is about finding your true north or commitment to meaningful pursuits that give our lives a sense of direction and fulfilment.
But a good life isn’t necessarily about achieving specific goals or material possessions.
It’s about finding joy and fulfilment in the journey of life. It’s about creating a sense of purpose and meaning that sustains us throughout our journey.
It’s about finding balance, creating meaningful connections with others, and living in a way that aligns with our values and beliefs.
Socrates was a classical Greek philosopher considered one of Western philosophy’s founders.
His ideas have also inspired many other thinkers throughout history, including the Stoics, who emphasized the importance of living in accordance with nature and reason, and the Existentialists, who stressed the importance of individual freedom and responsibility.
He believed the pursuit of wisdom and virtue was the key to living a good life. He thought everyone had a duty to examine their beliefs and values to live a life that was true to their nature and in harmony with the world around them.
For Socrates, the ultimate goal of human existence was to achieve a state of eudaimonia, or happiness, which he believed could only be attained through the cultivation of wisdom, morality, and self-knowledge.
Socrates observed that pursuing material wealth and pleasure was ultimately unsatisfying and that true happiness could only be found through a life of virtue and philosophical inquiry.
On re-evaluating a good life
“Not life, but good life, is to be chiefly valued,” Socrates said.
Socrates believed that the ultimate goal of human existence is not just to live but to live a good, meaningful and virtuous life.
He defined a good life as one living according to virtue.
“Virtue is knowledge,” Socrates said.
According to Socrates, a good life is guided by reason, virtue, and moral principles.
He believed that pursuing knowledge, self-improvement, and personal growth are essential to living a good life.
Virtue, for Socrates, was not simply a matter of doing good things. It was also a matter of knowing what was good and acting accordingly.
He thought the best way to learn about virtue was through dialogue. He often conversed with his students, asking them questions and challenging their assumptions.
He believed that through this critical thinking process, people could understand what is truly good and live a good life.
“It is not living that matters, but living rightly,” he said.
Socrates argued that our lives should not be measured by our external accomplishments (material possessions, wealth, and power) but by our inner qualities and virtues.
“Know thyself” is a call to self-awareness
Socrates’ philosophy can be summed up in his famous statement, “Know thyself,” which means that we must understand our own nature, desires, and limitations to lead a good life.
His observations for a good life were centred around the examined life concept. He argues that we should constantly question our beliefs and values and seek to understand the world around us.
Self-knowledge is the foundation of wisdom. It allows us to make rational choices and live according to our true nature.
He famously said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.”
He observed people often held false beliefs about themselves and that through questioning and self-reflection, they could uncover their true nature and achieve a state of inner harmony and contentment.
In his conversations with others, Socrates often used a method of questioning known as the Socratic method.
This involved asking a series of questions to help the other person arrive at a deeper understanding of their own beliefs and values.
Through this process, Socrates believed that people could uncover the truth about themselves and the world and live a life that was in harmony with that truth.
What’s important to you?
There are many ways to live a good life.
Some people find happiness in helping others, while others find it in pursuing their passions.
Some people find fulfilment in family and relationships, while others find it in their work. There is no right or wrong way to live a good life, as long as it is a life that is true to yourself.
If you are looking to live a good life, there are a few things you can do.
First, it is essential to figure out what is important to you.
What are your values? What are your goals?
Once you know what is important to you, you can start making choices that will help you live a life aligned with your values.
It is also crucial to find things that make you happy.
What do you enjoy doing? Make time for the things that makes you come alive or bring out the best in you.
Finally, remember to connect with others.
Humans are social creatures, and we need connections to thrive.
Spend time with loved ones, make new friends, and participate in social activities and events.
Living a good life is not always easy, but worth it.
It’s not enough to exist; strive for a meaningful life.
“Be as you wish to seem,” says Socrates.
Ultimately, the goal is not just to live but to live well.
This article originally appeared in Medium.
