Phaedo by Plato

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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.

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