Plutarch (c. 46 – c. 119 CE) was a Greek biographer, historian, and essayist writing during the early Roman Empire. He was familiar with Platonic and Socratic thought and sought to integrate Greek philosophical tradition into Roman life. He sudied the life of Socrates and made the following observation:
“Socrates is the first to show that life at all times and in all parts, in all that we suffer and do, always admits philosophy.” - Plutarch, An seni respublica gerenda sit, 796e
The conclusion reached by Plutarch is that philosophy is not confined to the theoretical, but is relevant to all of human life, in suffering, in action, relevalt to all aspects of life.
Plutarch observed Socartes live out the idea that philosophy shouold be integrated into iones life. Learning from Plato’s Apology, that “the unexamined life is not worth living”, philosophy becomes a lived experience. Living well (eudaimonía), living a good life, requires constant reflection on one’s values, thoughts, actions, relationships and duties.
The observation Plutach is making is that Socrates, in living the examined life, anchors his philosophy, not in a system of ideas, but in the living out of his philosophy in his daily life.
Philosophy is not a retreat from the world; rather it’s a way of orientating oneself within the political, social, personal and ethical world in which we find ourselves.
Philosophy is not about abstract reasoning, but it’s an embodied, daily practice. It’s an orientation towards how we live our lives within the circumstances we find ourselves.
Socrates deepest lesson is not be what he thought, but how he lived and why he died.