Know Thyself Essay - 926 Words

Consider the ancient imperative â€Å"know thyself†. How can different ways of knowing help us as individuals and communities to achieve this goal? Shakespeare once said, â€Å"Life is but a stage and men merely players on it.† In order for us to become main characters on this stage, instead of mere extras, we must be able to truly identify who we are as individuals first. After this has been accomplished we can find out how we can benefit our society. When complete self-awareness, self-knowledge, self-confidence, and self-respect are reached, than you can truly â€Å"know thyself.† In all of the Natural Sciences, be it physics, chemistry, or biology, the physical world is dissected and analyzed. Using a language of their own, the Natural Sciences go†¦show more content†¦They are Identity Foreclosure, Identity Diffusion, Moratorium, and Identity Achievement. My sister has passed the Identity Foreclosure state where she accepts everything blindly and does not question her surroundings. She is now in the Identity Diffusion state in which she is still not looking for an identity for herself, yet she is beginning to question her surroundings. In this stage she has a complete lack of self-identity and no commitment to her personal goals. Most teenagers at our age, about 16 or 17, are in a state of Moratorium in which we still do not know who we are, but we are striving to create an identity for ourselves. This is reflected in the clothes we wear, the music we listen to, and the groups we tend to hang out with. The last stage, which many do not even reach, is the Identity Achievement stage, in which the person is happy with their share in life and is committed to their own values and goals. Henry Shaw once said, â€Å"It is not only the most difficult thing to know oneself, but the most inconvenient too.† Many people who lack a clear identity, and therefore feel insecure because of it, may turn to chat rooms or to gangs, where they can portray themselves as anything they want to be. Knowing thyself is extremely important to both the individual and society in general, for it causes the person to become more committed to their goals, and allows them to truly understand others. A society populated by individuals is much moreShow MoreRelatedThe Delphic Interest to Know Thyself613 Words   |  2 PagesSocial therapists and different mortals are entranced by the Delphic interest to Know thyself. Really, it was not the prophet talking, however presumably a pedant sovereign who put these words on the front of the sanctuary of Apollo. He didnt ask that we run quick, get in shape, or win fights. He asked that we know ourselves. Why? What did he mind? Maybe the skeptic sovereign suspected that in the event that we knew ourselves, social order might be fit as a fiddle [which raises the inquiryRead MoreAnalysis Of Know Thyself 1499 Words   |  6 PagesKnow Thyself has always been seen as the fulcrum of the western philosophical tradition. Questions of subjectivity, the self and personal identity continue within the contemporary philosophical discourse to this day. It still remains a key factor connecting western and eastern philosophy and modern with ancient philosophy. When Sartre takes up the question in Transcendence of the Ego, it marks a fundamental shift in the western philosophical tradition. Beginning with Descartes, and continuing upRead MoreSocrates659 Words   |  3 PagesSocrates Socrates was accused of many things in the Athens market. Socrates was accused of being a man who makes the worse argument into the stronger argument. A man who knows about the heavens and earth and therefore any one who believe this must not believe in the gods. Socrates was accused of being an atheist. Most of the people that followed him around his quest were inquisitive. Where as most adults would walk by Socrates with his â€Å"annoying question† the youth stopped to see what heRead MoreThe Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living Analysis1870 Words   |  8 Pagescareer, or is it all of these things combined? Socrates, often thought of as the father of western philosophy, claimed that knowing one’s self and living virtuously, is what makes life worth living. â€Å"the unexamined life is not worth living† and â€Å"Know Thyself† are both common quotes from Socrates, that help us define his concepts of psyche, and techne, and how these concepts form t ogether to explain virtue and his view of intellectualism or reason over ego. First, let’s look at the word virtue and seeRead MoreEssay about Know Thyself1335 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Know thyself† – Socrates. Self-awareness is the act of being fully perceptive about one’s innermost self; an essential part to one’s life. However, this self-inquiry is not easily obtained. â€Å"Self-awareness and its accompanying egoism profoundly affect peoples lives, interfering with their success, damaging their relationships with other people, and undermining their happiness.† (Leary) One’s self can become distorted through the influence of society and their beliefs. â€Å"Knowing others is wisdomRead MoreEQ is More Important than IQ1452 Words   |  6 Pagesenabiling- or disabling thought itself. How we do in life is determined by both -It is not just IQ but EI that matters.† (p. 28) Much evidence testifies that people who are emotionally adapt, know and manage their own feelings well are at an advantage in any domain of life. For example people who know how to manage their emotions are people whom we like to be around with because their emotional skills make us feel good. There is growing evidence that fundamental ethical stance in life stem fromRead MoreSocrates : A Classical Greek Philosopher And The Father Of Western Thought752 Words   |  4 PagesIndividual Creative Paper Socrates was a classical Greek Philosopher and the father of Western thought. He was born in Athens Greece, in (c. 470-399 B.C.E.) (Archetypes of Wisdom, 95) Little is known about his life, but what we do know through the writings of his students, especially Plato, is that Socrates had a unique philosophy and charisma. Socrates was born to Sophroniscus a sculptor, and mother Phaenarete, a midwife. Because he was not from a royal family it is assumed that he most likelyRead MorePerseverance772 Words   |  4 Pagesteachings, his word prepares us to face any and everything Satan has planned for our lives. No matter what the devil throws our way our persistence is key to showing the devil our God is an awesome God!! IITimothy 2:15 says 15Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. When you have perseverance a deep commitment is shown ***Would you all agree that the Christian walk could be compared to a Triathlon, not a quickRead MoreWhy Socrates Were Alive Today?920 Words   |  4 PagesIf Socrates were alive today, how must he feel about the Delphic inscription of â€Å"Know thyself† would still be a relevant question in which our society is still trying to answer in 21st Century living? In today’s fast paced society, the individual can easily get dehumanized by their work, technology, family commitments and the political process. A person is easily swayed by public opinion and not be able to think for themselves in fear of retribution and conflict. Sometimes it is easier to go withRead MoreOedipus Victim Of Fate Essay876 Words   |  4 Pagesstill wevers in fates power. Inscribed on the Temple of Delphi are the words, â€Å"Know thyself.† Can we ever really â€Å"know ourselves†? And if we can, do we want to know what we’ll find? Was Oedipus’ quest for self-knowledge his downfall or his salvation? Explain. We are always pursuing self knowledge about yourself and humane(). Fully knowing ourselves brings the truths of human nature(). You can not truly know thyself due to facts about yourself you disregard and ignore(). His quest for self knowledge