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Single Idea 3798

[from 'Elbow Room: varieties of free will' by Daniel C. Dennett, in 1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 5. Aims of Philosophy / a. Philosophy as worldly ]

Full Idea

The unexamined life may not be worth living, but the overexamined life is nothing to write home about either.

Clarification

A reaction to Socrates' famous remark

Gist of Idea

An overexamined life is as bad as an unexamined one

Source

Daniel C. Dennett (Elbow Room: varieties of free will [1984], §4.2)

Book Reference

Dennett,Daniel C.: 'Elbow Room - Free will worth wanting' [MIT 1999], p.87


A Reaction

Presumably he means a life which is all theory and no practice. Compare Idea 343.

Related Idea

Idea 343 The unexamined life is not worth living for men [Socrates]