The Examined Life
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Books |
The Examined Life is a 1989 anthology of philosophical reflections authored by philosopher Robert Nozick. This volume provoked a range of critical responses and serves in part as a reply to Socrates' claim in Plato's "The Apology of Socrates" that life without self-reflection lacks value.
Summary
Nozick’s text explores themes concerning human nature, individuality, and the importance of daily existence. Within the book, he challenges libertarianism and supports implementing some level of inheritance tax. Critics such as Thomas Kelly observe that The Examined Life represents a clear shift away from the more extreme libertarian positions Nozick presented in Anarchy, State, and Utopia.
Reception
In The Wilson Quarterly, Denis Donoghue commended The Examined Life, while acknowledging certain inconsistencies. Conversely, journalist Jane O'Grady labeled the book "disappointingly schmaltzy" in her review for The Guardian. Anthony Quinton described the work as being "unkindly treated" in The Oxford Companion to Philosophy (2005). Jim Holt, writing in The Literary Review, dismissed it as "trickled down philosophy" and questioned its value for readers.