"A life without examination is not worth living", Socrates declared in his defense before the Athenians. With this phrase he wanted to express what his life itself had been: a rational search for truth, a deep examination of important issues with the purpose to find what is worthwhile in human life: justice. If Socrates can be considered the father of Western culture, it is precisely because since then, with its lights and shadows, the Philosophy has sought to better understand reality and improve civilization through the Socratic method -critical thinking, to put it in 21st century jargon. That same eagerness to "follow reasoning as far as reasoning leads us" is what leads Socrates to dismantle the arguments of his friend Criton -willing to bribe the guard and get him out of prison-, and accept the sentence imposed, death. "It is better to suffer injustice than to commit it". That same eagerness is what leads to a critical exercise to improve society, to make it more just and humane, although it has taken us more than twenty-three centuries to put an end to many social inequalities.

The Philosophy is one of those important things where the West's destiny is at stake. That is why it is encouraging that it is once again taking center stage in the classroom: the congress has agreed to make subject compulsory again, not only in the two courses of high school diplomabut also in the fourth year of secondary school. In a world of screens and virtual paradises, Philosophy is still alive among young people. This is evidenced by the growing interest in the Philosophy Olympiads, voluntary activities attended by many young people and which, right here in Navarra, are attracting more and more young people from all over the world. high school diploma.

The prestigious American intellectual Michael Sandel, when he received the award Princess of Asturias award a few days ago, recounted his experience staff with Philosophy. It was as a result of a study on Economics that he was working on with a friend that the question of justice arose in him, and necessarily led him to philosophical reflection. He had the opportunity to read many books and learn about the approaches of many different authors. But in a different way than him - Sandel narrates in his speech- there are people who find Philosophy as a necessity in life: for example Reginaldo, a man who lives in the favelas of Brazil and fell in love with Socrates at the age of twenty-five. "Reginaldo still lives in the favela and leads discussions there. I think he and I are committed to the project that Socrates started: inviting citizens, regardless of their background or social circumstances, to ask hard questions about how we should live together." The important thing about Philosophy is not the scholarly discussions reserved for an enlightened few, Philosophy is the very necessity of life to ask the big questions and as such, an indispensable task in the formative process of young people.

The Philosophy as a light for life, a necessary question for the great questions. A light especially necessary in a digital culture of screens and immediate communication, in a fast and nomadic world, in a global village in which multiple worldviews are diluted. A world of deceptive and accelerated partial flashes. In a status like ours, reflection on the important questions, the permanent issues, is essential to form free citizens and build a more just society. Only through the rational search for truth and critical thinking are we able to find answers to life's problems. The Philosophy as Socratic method is, above all, openness to reality, capacity of admiration, search for understanding. If Socrates on the one hand tried to show the weakness of arguments, on the other hand he was convinced that it was possible to understand reality better and better: the good, beauty, justice. Although society has repeatedly tried to eliminate Socrates, his voice can still be heard again and again in the classroom.