Phaedo by Plato. Short summary

5 seconds

Socrates is talking to his disciples before his death. He recalls the death of the great Greek philosopher and touches on the immortality of the soul. The philosopher believes that a better life awaits him after death.

1 minute

Ehekrates meets Phaedon of Elis. The latter was captured during the war and became a slave. His master sold him to Athens. With Socrates’ help, he was ransomed from captivity and became his disciple. Later, Phaedon founded his own school based on the views of his teacher.

Echecrates asks him to remember the circumstances of the philosopher’s death, for Phaedon and the other disciples were near him in prison on the day of his execution. He recalls how Socrates reasoned that suicide was inadmissible. Everyone’s life depends on the gods, who may grant a better life after death, provided one has been good and judicious. Therefore true philosophers are not afraid of death, but on the contrary wish for it.

Phaedon sets forth the teacher’s reasoning about the soul and the body. The soul is pure, but it is hindered by the body, which is filled with base passions. The true essence of things can only be known by the pure mind, unchained by the burden of sensuality. Therefore, the sage wants to lose his body and see things with his soul.