Presentation on theme: "The PHAEDO The death of the philosopher, and the immortality and nature of the soul."— Presentation transcript:
The PHAEDO The death of the philosopher, and the immortality and nature of the soul
Background – the PHAEDO consists of two parts the death scene 60a-63e and 115b-118a (beginning early in the morning when his jailors took off his chains and ending in the evening with his taking the hemlock, and his death process), and the final philosophical discourse/conversation with friends who visited him in his cell. The first part of this (64a-69e) is on his attitude toward death, and the rest (70a-115a [not part of the NCEA requirement –as it is thought to be more Plato than Socrates]) covers the soul’s immortality. This whole section takes the form of a second “apology” – a trial before a jury – his friends – who ‘charge’ him with showing undue cheerfulness in the face of death.
How the dialogue goes? The Phaedo this takes place sometime after Socrates death in a remote Peloponnesian town of Phlius near Corinth a friend Echecrates – a follower of Pythagorean philosophy buttonholes Phaedo, who was present at Socrates’ death He wants to be told precisely happened. [an unusual dialogue in that it is a report through Phaedo, though he is not much involved in them.]
Background: death – as understood by common people Greek notions of death In order to ‘get’ the issues we need to grasp the Greek understanding of death. (nothing like our ‘heaven’) Hades is a place of shades, ghosts – the senses are dull – pleasure and pain blunted – a ½ alive state – Homer in his Odyssey shows death, where Achilles tells Odysseus that had he known he’d have preferred a dull life without honour to a short life and immortal fame. Some followers of the mystery cults, Orpheus, and Pythagoras had more optimistic views. Though most Greeks would have had the Homeric vision.
Background: Socrates’ notion of death that we have already met in the Apology and Crito. Apology: He says the fact that people fear death proves their ignorance. Since they can’t be certain it is bad, it is not rational to assume that it is – so why fear what you can’t know (maybe it’s the uncertainty that they fear) In the sentencing section he puts forward 2 desirable alternatives – \ a) the sleepless oblivion b) the souls migration to a better place and the joy of companionship with the great figures of the past. He also mentions the judges of the underworld – implying an element of retribution there. Crito: He thinks it is absurd for an old man with a worn out body to dread death. He also mentions how he will be judged in the afterlife if he has fled his agreement with “Laws” to live. He says we are morally accountable for our lives “before the authorities there.”
DIALOGUE begins with pleasure and pain [57a- 61c] In the Phaedo, Echecrates catches up on Socrates end by having Phaedo, who was there, tell him what occurred in minute detail. He is told about the delay due to the religious trip to Delos (and its background). About who was there – Plato specifically excluded – and even the detail of what strange ambiguous emotions Phaedo experienced. How they had all assembled early, but had to wait as the jailors were with Socrates explaining the execution procedure to him, and removing his leg chains. When they entered he was with his wife Xanthippe and youngest son, but she became distressed and was taken home. He talks about the pain of the chains, transforming to pleasure at the ceasing of the pain – noting that pleasure and pain a never together but always very close together (like two bodies attached to the same head 60c) – they cause one another. The discussion moves on to some verses Socrates had been writing in prison based on Aesop’s fables (obeying dream’s he’d had recently “Socrates – follow the Arts 60e”). Then him sending his complements to a friend, Evenus, who he says should follow him soon (to death).
The Philosophers attitude to suicide – if death is so to be desired why not suicide? [61d-63c] This leads to comments that the philosopher shou