The Examined Life

Philosophy to answer life’s timeless questions

How can an ancient philosopher help us with modern-day struggles when they never dealt with screens, mortgages, or late-night work chats? First: as the Romans used to say, "a beard does not make a philosopher." Some had goatees, some had mustaches… and yes, even in presocratic times, there were beardless female philosophers, though history has barely acknowledged them. Second: let’s accept that our problems aren’t as modern as we think. Questions about justice, relationships, power, and purpose have been shaping human existence for centuries.

In The Examined Life, Víctor Ballesteros brings philosophy into everyday life with a fresh, accessible approach, showing that ancient wisdom still speaks to our modern dilemmas. He explores timeless questions we face across all stages of life—from why we should follow rules and how to respond to bullying, to navigating workplace exploitation and finding meaning after retirement.

Philosophers such as Socrates, De Beauvoir, Spinoza, Arendt, Kant, and Marx, among others, will lend us a hand in navigating this strange, difficult, and sometimes beautiful journey that is life. But in the end, the answers to the questions that will accompany us throughout our existence are ours to find.