Comments on: The Examined Life is Rarely Worth Living? http://blogs.bu.edu/core/2011/02/01/the-examined-life-is-rarely-worth-living/ news, events, and commentary from the Arts & Sciences Core Curriculum Tue, 14 May 2013 22:49:14 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: jjmc http://blogs.bu.edu/core/2011/02/01/the-examined-life-is-rarely-worth-living/comment-page-1/#comment-21 jjmc Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:08:39 +0000 http://blogs.bu.edu/core/?p=517#comment-21 So, properly put, both the unexamined and over-examined lives aren't worth living? Seems we need to apply the golden mean even to our contemplation of the golden mean. So, properly put, both the unexamined and over-examined lives aren’t worth living? Seems we need to apply the golden mean even to our contemplation of the golden mean.

]]> By: Fabiana C. http://blogs.bu.edu/core/2011/02/01/the-examined-life-is-rarely-worth-living/comment-page-1/#comment-20 Fabiana C. Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:42:58 +0000 http://blogs.bu.edu/core/?p=517#comment-20 The more I think about it (irony!), the more I've come to believe that the excessive introspection philosophers (and other folks) innately are prone to may play a part in the array of psychological maladies they historically suffer from (depression, social problems, etc.) However, I don't think "philosophizing" itself is to blame. Any one who ruminates constantly is bound to be more sensitive to this multifaceted, wonderful and terrible world. But philosophizing directs that thinking instinct and gives it purpose. By reflecting on the ideas of previous thinkers and producing the thoughts of tomorrow, the philosopher can't but experience joy; for understanding leads to a stronger foundation of contentment than indulging in ignorance, which can only give fleeting unAristotelian happiness and enchantments, which as they fade guarantee future fear and even despair. The more I think about it (irony!), the more I’ve come to believe that the excessive introspection philosophers (and other folks) innately are prone to may play a part in the array of psychological maladies they historically suffer from (depression, social problems, etc.)

However, I don’t think “philosophizing” itself is to blame. Any one who ruminates constantly is bound to be more sensitive to this multifaceted, wonderful and terrible world. But philosophizing directs that thinking instinct and gives it purpose. By reflecting on the ideas of previous thinkers and producing the thoughts of tomorrow, the philosopher can’t but experience joy; for understanding leads to a stronger foundation of contentment than indulging in ignorance, which can only give fleeting unAristotelian happiness and enchantments, which as they fade guarantee future fear and even despair.

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