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Examined Life

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” —Socrates Examined Life pulls philosophy out of academia and classrooms and puts it back on the streets. In Examined Life, filmmaker Astra Taylor accompanies some of today’s most influential thinkers on a series of unique excursions through places and spaces that hold particular resonance for them and their ideas.
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“The unexamined life is not worth living.” —Socrates

Examined Life pulls philosophy out of academia and classrooms and puts it back on the streets.

In Examined Life, filmmaker Astra Taylor accompanies some of today’s most influential thinkers on a series of unique excursions through places and spaces that hold particular resonance for them and their ideas.

Social Issues All subjects
  • participant
    Cornel West
    Avital Ronell
    Peter Singer
    Kwame Anthony Appiah
    Martha Nussbaum
    Michael Hardt
    Slavoj Zizek
    Judith Butler
    Sunaura Taylor
  • producer
    Bill Imperial
    Lea Marin
  • executive producer
    Ron Mann
    Silva Basmajian
  • commissioning editor
    Jane Jankovic
  • sound recordist
    Sanjay Mehta
  • sound design
    John Laing
  • director of photography
    John Tran
  • editor
    Robert Kennedy
  • writer
    Astra Taylor
  • director
    Astra Taylor
  • independent production officer
    Linda Fong
  • production consultant
    Alexander Taylor
  • camera assistant
    Scott Burton
  • sound editor
    John Laing
    Josh Machado
  • re-recording mixer
    Keith Elliott
    Steve Moore
  • re-recording assistant
    Brandon Prodger
  • foley artist
    Marilee Yorston
  • additional camera
    Sean Kirby
    Laura Hanna
    Sanjay Mehta
  • post-production supervisor
    Mark Wilson
  • technical coordinator
    Branden Bratuhin
  • technical assistant
    Christopher Logan
  • coordinator
    Lena de Casperis
    James Westcott
  • location scout
    Heath Schultz
    Tara Taylor
    Alexander Taylor
    David Wallace
  • production assistant
    Lena de Casperis
    Renée Lottridge
    Alexander Taylor
    David Wallace
    James Westcott
  • post-production assistant
    Sam Yerraguntla
  • researcher
    Michael Boyuk
    Bill Imperial
  • transcription
    Reesa Del Duca
    Adina Frankel
    Sam Yerraguntla
  • words of wisdom
    Bill Schroeder
    Jeff Mangum
    Laura Hanna
    Aaron Levy
  • shot stitcher
    Nick Fairhead
  • typographer
    Nicholas Kennedy
  • graphics photography
    Cat O'Neil
  • colourist
    Chris Dover
  • online editor
    Chris Mackenzie
  • telecine assistant
    Rui Martins
  • video data centre operator
    Bernie Clayton
    Mike Seeley
    Ryan Logel
  • project manager
    Gary Brown
  • video transfer
    Precision Transfer
  • on-line lab
    Deluxe Toronto
  • production accountant
    Janet Drynan
    Eugene Gaudio
  • bookkeeper
    Patricia Rose
  • legal
    Gary Solway
    Kara Russell
  • insurance
    AON/Ruben-Winkler
  • foley recording mixer
    Rudy Michael
  • post sound
    Urban Post Production Inc.

Education

Ages 11 to 17
School subjects
Civics/Citizenship - Citizen Responsibilities Civics/Citizenship - Federal/Provincial Government Ethics and Religious Culture - Ethical Values History and Citizenship Education - Civil Rights and Freedoms Science - Life Systems/Ecology Social Studies - Contemporary Issues Social Studies - Law
Teaching note: The film can be viewed in segments, as each one discusses a separate philosophy. Each segment could include a small group discussion followed by a full-class discussion. How is “philosophy” best defined? Does life have meaning? Is a better world really possible? How can global citizenship be attained? Comment on Michael Hardt’s definition of democracy: “Democracy is the rule of all by all.” Debate: “The unexamined life is not worth living” (Socrates). (Plato was merely quoting Socrates in his Apology.)

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