Is an “unexamined life” really such a bad thing? – SCN Encourager

Was Plato right about it being “not worth living?”

You gotta wonder.

Sure… his words and teachings have been admired for more than 2400 years.

But I’m going to wait and see how he trends over the next few decades before seriously worrying about them.

There’s no need to make a snap decision.

Besides I’m the one who has to look in the mirror every morning.

That spectacle alone is enough to remind me that I should just leave well enough alone.

Why look for trouble?

But Plato has caused me to re-think my prior posturing about “lifelong learning.”

Kudos to him.

Although I’ve always considered a commitment to lifelong learning one of life’s essentials, now I’m second-guessing myself.

I’m finding out I’ve undervalued it.

Consider.

Plato’s Academy was founded in 387 BC in Athens.

Since the school has never played in any Bowl Games or qualified for a March Madness bracket, what the ture significance of this school remains under my radar.

(Or to be more precise, given my standards… it remains ABOVE my radar.)

It’s been reported that – in addition to everything else –  the Academy also offered what could best be described as a “three year track” for older students.

First year students in this track were known as “the wise.”

Second year students were known as “the philosophers.”

And third year students were known as “the learners.”

This is an indication of the status accorded to those who had embraced the fact that they didn’t know it all… and never would!

A learner was the highest level one could achieve.

Dang!

I could embrace this notion in a heartbeat!

But before I do… I’m still going to do some deep thinking.

There must be more to this.

Something I’m totally missing.

The fact that Aristotle attended the Academy for more than 20 years to study under Plato tells me one thing.

If I was a student there, I’d ever graduate!

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