Socrates believed that the unexamined life was not worth living. I have come to understand that Socrates was a pretty intelligent man, but I don't agree. I think that life is really about doing what you can to be happy, and I'm sure that philosophizing made Socrates one happy camper. But what if 'examining your life' isn't what makes you happy?
Socrates knew that there are risks when studying philosophy. Sometimes the truth is scary. Sometimes the truth is painful. Maybe philosophy isn't everyone's cup of tea. And what's wrong with that? They could suffer from stupidity, but if they are happy why would anyone else have the right to say that their life is 'unworthy' of living.
I might even argue a step further that is someone is to over examine their life, they wouldn't be living their life to its full potential. What if all you do is sit around and think about your ideals? Its all fun and good that you have that sorted out, but what about actually living?
Personally, I believe that I should take time to think about very complex questions. I believe that I should participate is debates and politics, but only because those things happen to interest me. And if they didn't, I wouldn't take the time think about them.
The person that I can have these philosophical debates with is my mother. She is the modern day Socrates. Mostly because she seems to question everything I do. She makes me rethink everything that I believed I had a firm platform on. She doesn't really provide me with any answers, or at the very least her beliefs because wants me to come to my own conclusions. Its actually really frustrating. I'm pretty sure she philosophizes for fun. She also may or may not have forced me to taking Honors Philosophy.
I think the way that your mother makes you rethink all that you thought you had a firm grasp on , though sometimes annoying :P, is extremely helpful it helps you to make sure that you know what you are talking about and truly believe what you are saying.
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