Is the unexamined life worth living?

In greek it is "ὁ δὲ ἀνεξέταστος βίος οὐ βιωτὸς ἀνθρώπῳ"

• The Situation: Socrates had been found guilty of "corrupting the youth" and "impiety." He was given the opportunity to suggest an alternative punishment to the death penalty.
• The Rejection of Silence: Instead of begging for his life or proposing a quiet exile where he would stop his philosophical questioning, Socrates insisted on his right—and duty—to continue his work.
• The Argument: He argued that he had provided the "greatest good" to the city by constantly questioning others about virtue and excellence (aretē). He famously stated that he could not simply stop philosophizing, because a life without such examination was, to him, fundamentally not worth living.

## Reference: Plato, Apology, 38a.