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eassy eurthyphro by plato
The Phaedo Plato essay
The Phaedo Plato essay
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Phaedo by Plato
The opening of Plato's Phaedo finds Socrates constructing a defense of the philosophical life.
When consideration is given to the status of philosophy in Greece at the end of the fifth century
BCE, such a defense seems unnecessary and, at the same time, difficult. This is because ancient Greece provides us with the origins of philosophy, and yet this particular period in history serves
as a good demonstration of the public's general distaste for and persecution of it. Several philosophers, including Pythagoras, Anaxagoras, and Protagoras, were ridiculed and attacked for their beliefs. In spite of these social deterrents, Socrates remained faithful to his life long pursuit, even though it led to his demise.
In the Phaedo, we meet Socrates on the morning of his own execution. The permeating spirit of persecution and the immediate nature of their teacher's death leave Socrates' students with mixed emotions. Phaedo comments to Echecrates that he was amazed by the courage and composure demonstrated by Socrates in this moment of impending misfortune. Indeed, Socrates possesses the strength of a warrior and the serenity of a priest. This peace becomes an essential part of the dialogue because it elevates the interests of his interlocutors and turns the topic of discussion towards an inquiry about the nature of death.
Underlying the suspicion about Socrates' ability to accept his fate so generously is the fear and uncertainty surrounding death that Phaedo and his fellow "classmates" share. At one point in the
discussion Cebes says, "Probably even in us there is a little boy who has these childish terrors.
Try to persuade him not to be afraid of death as though it were a bogy." S...
... middle of paper ...
... unless it is necessary to do so, and encourages it to collect and concentrate itself
by itself ... attributing no truth to anything which it views indirectly as being subject
to variation, because such objects are sensible and visible but what the soul itself
sees is intelligible and invisible. Now the soul of the true philosopher feels that it
must not reject this opportunity for release, and so it abstains as far as possible
from pleasures and desires and griefs ....
The role of philosophy for Plato, then, is not to provide rational answers, but to make the individual pay attention long enough to ask the right questions, and, in so doing, to move from the visible to the intelligible realm.
This claim is completely false for multiple reasons. Primarily, Socrates simply did not argue the physical over the metaphysical; he just wanted to find true knowledge. He did not have any interest in this argument at all. In Socrates opening statement to the court, Socrates identified the first charge to be false by directly confronting the philosophers who actually did this style of teaching. He stated,” I will ask you then to assume with me that my opponents are of two kinds: one more recent, the other from the past. I will answer the latter first, for these accusations you heard long before the others. In this statement Socrates was referring to the Pre-Socratics as the true perpetrators who argued the physical over the metaphysical. They even held a high social status for...
185-196. Dillon, Mathew, and Garland, Lynda. Ancient Greece: Social and Historical Documents from Archaic Times to the Death of Socrates. Routledge International Thompson Publishing Company, 1994, pp. 179-215 Lefkowitz, Mary.
Although Socrates and Pericles are in different situations while giving their speeches, they both talk about things that let you, as the reader, see their views on certain points. One of the key points they agree upon is death.
Consequently, In Plato's Euthyphro, our acquaintance with Socrates is immensely beneficial to society, as we obtain awareness on such an innovative method of achieving intuition. The Socratic approach is now a fundamental approach implemented in daily conversation in society Furthermore, not only is Socrates is able to verify that the true seekers are the wise; he also validates the notion that the answers to many questions are merely questions. Simply because, life is so debate that certain subjects begin to intertwine. To sum up, Plato's Euthyphro is extremely indicative of this Socratic irony, for the reason being that: Socrates's portrays a sense of intellectual humility.
In Plato’s dialogue, Phaedo, Echecrades asks Phaedo the details of Socrates’ last day alive. Phaedo first describes his own countenance as well as the rest of Socrates’ companions as “an unaccustomed mixture of pleasure and pain” because they all know that Socrates’ death is imminent, however they see that Socrates appears happy and without fear (58, e). The conversation with Socrates turns to why a philosopher should not fear death. Socrates defines death as the separation of the soul from the body (64, c). He states that the body is a constant impediment to a philosopher in their search for the truth. Socrates says that the body “fills us with wants, desires, fears, all sorts of illusions and much nonsense, so that… no thought of any kind ever comes to us from the [it].” (66, c). He claims that philosophy itself is “training for dying” and philosophers purify their souls by detaching it from the body (67, e). Socrates concludes that it would be unreasonable for a philosopher to fear death because they will obtain the truth they sought in life upon the separation of their body and soul, or death (67, c). After successfully proves the soul’s immortality, Socrates goes on to tell his companions a myth. This myth tells o the judgment of the dead and their journey through the underworld (107, d). It explains the shape of the Earth and how it has different surfaces (108, c- 113, d). It also tells of the punishment for the maimed souls and the reward for the pure souls, those of philosophers (113, c – 114, d). After concluding this myth, Socrates seems to emphasize that the exact details of the story are not important and “no sensible man would insist that these things are as I have described them” but it is important to “risk the bel...
In the book “Phaedo,” Plato discusses the theory of forms with ideas that concern the morality of the form. There are four philosophers that are expressed which are Phaedo, Cebes, and Simmias regarding the execution of Socrates. Socrates is presented in “Phaedo” on the morning of his execution where he is being killed. He tells his disciples Simmias and Cebes that he is not afraid of dying because a true philosopher should welcome and look forward to death but not suicide. A man should never commit suicide. He says that we are possessions of the Gods and should not harm themselves. He provides the four arguments for his claim that the soul is immortal and that a philosopher spends his whole life preparing for death.
In Apology, Socrates is tired in court for corruption of the youth (Plato 20). Many of his enemies had accused him of this crime for not acknowledging the existence of the gods in his teachings (Plato 27). While Socrates put up a good fight against his accusers, it was not enough to walk about not guilty. Socrates was sentenced to execution and was locked away in jail (Plato 38). When the time had come for Socrates’s execution, he drank poison and was poisoned to death (Plato 115).
Phaedo was set in a prison. While in prison, Socrates contemplated whether or not there is an afterlife and whether or not the soul can survive death. He explains that we discuss the soul because it applies to all humans; it’s more personal, closer to us than the nature of being. Socrates adds that he doesn’t fear death because it means fearing your soul. You shouldn’t fear the unknown, but embrace it. Furthermore, he comes to the conclusion that the soul is immortal based on the following 3 arguments.
According to ben-Jochannan, such "revelations" are examples of the educational dishonesty of educators who feature Aristotle’s viewpoint to Greek origins. However, when traditionalists or Egyptologists point out where James was incorrect, they are accused of Eurocentrism and even "white racism." Such charges, even if without substance, can be damaging in today's academic world. This is how this affects our educational system today, speaking that the historical proof that has been passed down to us simply does not help the belief that the Greeks "stole" their civilization or their viewpoint from Egypt. I however, have the greatest respect for ancient Egypt and its culture; the ancient Greeks earn full credit for their own accomplishments.
The 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the History of Greece: Classical Greece. Ancient Greece.org. -. [3/13/2014] http://www.ancient-greece.org/history/classical.html>. Roman society, Roman life, Roman society. n.d. - n.d. - n.d.
An Examination of Socrates' Attitude Towards Death and Dying When presented with a problem or argument Socrates, the philosopher, attacked most issues with a relatively disingenuous attitude. A question or idea would be presented and he would automatically respond with either another question or a new philosophy for his opposite party to ponder. These were the ways of Socrates, an intelligent yet humble man who knew the limits of his knowledge. And through his passion for knowledge and quest for the meaning of life, Socrates often stumbled across the theme of death and dying.
In the reading, it explains that Socrates is wealthy, educated, has a high status and honored, but Socrates believes all of it is worthless, harmful and damaging to the soul. The soul is all that matters because it is eternal. When he was on death row, he didn’t really fight to save his life. He knows his potential and is refusing to take control and live up to it. He truly doesn't care whether he dies and is willing to throw hi...
... is safely sustained. Ultimately, the lack of knowledge on the subject of death is no grounds for its presumption to have any negative connotation. Thus Socrates leaves the people and the men of the jury, pronouncing that "it is time for us to go—me to my death, you to your lives. Which of us goes to the better fate, only god knows,” (Plato 100).
Coplestone, Frederick. A History of Philosophy- Greece and Rome. New York: Image Books,1962. (pgs 64-70).
Socrates' argument backing up his claim, the statement makes a lot of sense. In order for Philosophers to