y way we can comprehend anything. They are the form we use to make sense of chaotic sense inputs. (Plato went on to develop his famous theory of Forms from this line of reasoning).
Why “True philosophers make dying their profession” [66d-69e] Only after we are free from the body’s “infecting” influences are we free to enter the realm of truth. Till then – in life – we can’t attain truth. In fact the effect of the body may so contaminate the soul that it is hard for it to enter the afterlife (realm of purity), because it is a ‘breach of the divine order’. Note the idea of judgement – morality and truth are intimately linked for Socrates. “True philosophers make dying their profession” – means that for a lover of wisdom, a) the focus is on virtue & wisdom (soul) rather than senses and pleasure, and b) the ultimate physical purification of death is the ultimate goal – hence they will not fear death. Self control and courage is the practice of philosophers. Courage and self control of ordinary people has an ulterior motive – courage because they are fearful of appearing cowardly, self control because they enjoy it (self indulgence). Philosophers don’t use their emotions (like or fear) to decide what to do, but wisdom. Wisdom acts to cleanse emotions from our decisions, which is good because emotions are fickle and distract form truth. So, purity and enlightenment are necessary to enter the afterlife. This concludes Socrates “apology” – the rest of the Phaedo delves further into the problem, as Cebes still worries that maybe the soul simply disappears after death, rather than having the life Socrates has claimed [not in our syllabus].
The death scene – one of the most influential death scenes in western literature [115b-118a] Socrates tells his friends how to live well without him, and to take care of themselves He says not to fret over how to bury him, as he is not there – only his body (especially Crito – who is slow realising Socrates’ confidence). He goes to bathe – to save the women doing it after his death His family (3 sons) visit, then leave The sun sets and the jailer brings him the bowl of Hemlock to drink, and explains to him what to expects as the poison takes hold. He says Socrates is the kindest and noblest who he has had to serve this way and bids him farewell Crito tries to persuade him to delay taking the poison, but Socrates is ready to begin his adventure after life. Socrates takes the hemlock without fear and, commenting that he will depart, and leave his corpse there in the cell (he identifies with the soul). His friends all weep now but Socrates chides them to stop – it is good for a person to die in peace. He gets cold and numb up his legs, and about to die his last words – are to Crito –” I owe a cock to Asclepius” for curing his soul of the disease of physical life. And he dies The Phaedo closes with Phaedo saying to Echecrates that this was “the end of our comrade, who was we may say, of all whom we knew in our time the bravest and also the wisest and the most just.”