Plato's Phaedo: On the Soul - Part 1 (thru 89d) 1230pm start

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Plato's Phaedo concludes the dramatic account of Socrates' final hours, where he engages close friends in profound discussions about the mysteries of life and death before drinking the hemlock.

Alongside the Republic, the Phaedo is one of Plato's most philosophically rich dialogues from his middle period. It introduces an exploration of the Theory of Forms, presents four arguments for the soul's immortality, and offers compelling reasons to embrace the philosophical life.

One striking claim is that believing in the soul’s immortality encourages a virtuous life. In fact, our pursuit of goodness may already imply an intuitive belief in the soul’s eternal nature.

As this dialogue is more lengthy, allocate sufficient time to read in its entirety.

Part 1: since the Phaedo is lengthy, I have decided to split into two parts based on its narrative and argumentative arcs. A natural breakpoint occurs around the transition from the initial discussions and the first three arguments for the soul’s immortality to the later, more complex arguments and the final myth and death scene. This roughly aligns with the text’s progression from establishing premises to deepening the metaphysical implications. Today we discuss part 1.

Part 1: Introduction, Context, and Initial Arguments (57-89d)
Content:
• The dialogue opens with Phaedo recounting Socrates’ final day to Echecrates, setting the scene in the prison (~57a-59c).
• Socrates discusses the philosopher’s attitude toward death, arguing that true philosophers welcome it as a release from bodily constraints (~59c-66e).
• The first three arguments for the soul’s immortality are presented:

Cyclical Argument (~70c-72e): All things come from their opposites, so life comes from death, implying the soul’s pre-existence and reincarnation.
Recollection Argument (~72e-77a): Knowledge of Forms (e.g., equality) is recollected from a pre-birth existence, proving the soul’s immortality.
Affinity Argument (~78b-84b): The soul, being akin to the invisible and divine, is indestructible and eternal.
• The section ends with Simmias and Cebes raising objections (~84c-88c), challenging the arguments’ conclusions.
Finish reading when Socrates encourages us not to become misologists (haters of arguments)

ASSIGNED READING:
• https://www.platonicfoundation.org/media/2023/01/platos-phaedo-english-translation-by-david-horan-1.pdf
Audio https://librivox.org/phaedo-by-plato/

OPTIONAL MEDIA
• Philosophy by the Book podcast http://philosophybythebook.libsyn.com/philosophy-by-the-book-episode-18-platos-phaedo