Study philosophy, examine morality

During the trial in which he was sentenced to death, Socrates defended himself orally against his attackers, proclaiming that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” I wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment, as it is very easy to proceed through life while being complacent, never examining one’s own beliefs and morality, and never questioning how you can improve yourself. Engaging in the study of philosophy is one way to avoid this. 

The study of philosophy, especially the study of analytical philosophy, promotes critical thinking skills. Learning how to examine various philosophical, ethical and moral arguments through various logical structures can help you more easily identify any flaws or contradictions in your own viewpoints, as well as help you express your views in a coherent, logical and noncontradictory way.  

This skill has helped me not only in the field of philosophy but has also been invaluable in the field of history, in writing these opinion columns, and in conversations I have had in my everyday life. You must see the flaws, or the perceived flaws, in your own belief system to strengthen your reasoning for holding them. 

The study of ethics can also be the start of an incredibly fruitful journey of self-reflection and personal growth. Through the study of philosophy in my first ethics course at Troy, I realized that one of my deeply held personal beliefs employed poor reasoning and was almost logically indefensible.  

I was also confronted head-on with the fact that I agreed with the argument for animal rights and yet continued to consume meat anyway due to convenience. While uncomfortable, these experiences improved who I am as a person, as they made me confront and accept my own failings and shortcomings, and made me become more comfortable with change. 

Philosophy is more accessible than one may have originally thought. When I registered for my first philosophy class, I was very scared, as I thought that it was something for people much smarter, older and wealthier than me. Throughout my time at Troy, I’ve been grateful to have been proven wrong.  

I have that the professors and students in the philosophy and religion minor are some of the most interesting and passionate people on this campus, and are almost always open to discuss any topic, from pertinent issues such as animal rights to older philosophical works such as Hegel’s “The Phenomenology of Spirit” with an interested student, no matter if they are a philosophy minor or not.  

Additionally, there are many free and reputable online resources for the study of philosophy, such as the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Many philosophy books are in the public domain and are thus available as free ebooks. Those that are not yet in the public domain are often available through libraries, or very cheaply as used books. 

While a deep study of philosophy is undoubtedly difficult for a large majority of people, that does not mean that its pursuit is not worthwhile. Doing hard things trains you to not be repelled by discomfort, but rather to view discomfort as an opportunity for growth, and philosophy is no exception. 

Reader, study philosophy. Examine your own life- examine your morality, your ethics and your personal values, and gain understanding of those whose beliefs are different from your own. Identifying and wrestling with our own inadequacy is something that humans have been doing since our creation and is a practice you and I should take care not to lose, but rather to cultivate.