PHAEDO (PLATO)

Phaedo

Phaedo is about the last moments in the life of Socrates. According to the description of Phaedo, Socrates was accused of misguiding and corrupting the youths of his city, Athens. For his radical and influential ideas, he was given death punishment by the city council. He could have saved his life by changing his opinions but he didn’t do so. He decided not to bow down before falsehood. In the dialogue we find Echecrates asking to Phaedo, one of the men present during Socrates' final hours to recount him the finall hours of Socrates life. Eager to hear the story from a first-hand source, Echecrates presses Phaedo to tell what happened.

The text depicts the last moments of great philosopher, Socrates. Socrates was blamed for misleading the youths. So, he was executed. Socrates always followed the path of truth. Plato, one of the most famous disciples of Socrates records the philosophical discussion that his leader held with his other disciples before he accepted his death by drinking hemlock. Phaedo, the disciple of Socrates, describes his last discussion to Echerates. Socrates lived his life bravely and accepted the death bravely. All of his family members and the disciple couldn’t tolerate his death but he consoled them with his soothing words. He believed in his life after death. According to him death is inevitable. We have to meet the ultimate truth of death, so we shouldn’t worry and get afraid of death. We should live meaningful life by following the path of truth and the god.Socrates believed in the concept of ‘after life.’ He believed that when someone is dead, only his body is dead. The soul is eternal. After death, the soul is separated from the body and ascends to heaven. He doesn’t give any importance to dead body since it is nothing after the soul is released from the body. That’s why he asked his disciples to bury his dead body as they wish to bury. The god is powerful. The god only welcomes pure soul in the heaven. If we commit sinful act, the gate to heaven is closed for us. So, we should win the heavenly glory by following truth and reality in life. As Socrates lived bravely, he accepted the death bravely. He drank the cup of hemlock happily in front of his disciples. He could save his life by begging excuses to the authority, but the truth was dearer to him than his life. Before dying, Socrates asked Crito to offer cock to Asclepius. It was the Greek custom to make an offering to the divine healer, Asclepius after recovery from illness. According to Socrates, he was recovering, not dying. He was just entering into next heavenly life. Thus, Socrates was the bravest, the wisest and the most upright man of all the time. 

Literal Comprehension:

 Phaedo is written by Plato. When Socrates was executed, Phaedo was with him. Pahedo describes the details about Socrates death. He says that Socrates was very wise and brave. He perfected to die speaking the truth of live telling a lie. He was accused of misleading the youth and causing them to hold free opinions. So, he was arrested by authority. But he wasn't executed immediately since the sacred mission to Delos hadn't been completed yet. So the execution was delayed until the arrival of the ship of Athens. When the ship came, the day of execution was fixed. One the last day of his execution, many students his friends and relatives came to meet him into prison. That day had also been passed in the usual Philosophical discussion for a long time. After that he went into another room. After taking bath he looked fresh. Then the prison officer came with a bowl of poison and said that Socrates had to drink it. Making the tears in his eyes, he went away. He was offered poison. Even though, he didn't changes his facial expression. Rather he commands his student not to lose their hearts. Then he drank it calmly. He walked for some time. His friend started to weep but he scolded them. At the end, he wished that a cock should be offered to healing god, Asclepius. In this way the bravest wisest and most upright man died.

Interpretation:

The story is trying to say us about the importance of life and death. In our death is inevitable. Everyone should die sooner or later. So, we should accept death for the sake of truth and justice. Death for righteousness never becomes worthless. As in the story Socrates accepts the death calmly for the sake of righteousness. He thinks that dying bravely is more satisfactory than living cowardly. So, he accepts death for the sake of truth and humanity.

Critical Thinking:

Though the story talks about death for the truth and humanity but there are many ideas which are unacceptable. In this modern age, do we believe in existence of soul and life after death? Do the modern people follow such principles of Socrates? Was Athenian government to cruel that man couldn't have the right to express the thoughts?

Assimilation:

After reading this lesson I learnt a great moral lesson about the truth and justice. I must be bold to speak the truth. If anything is wrong. Moreover, I was coward and afraid of death. But after reading this story, I have decided to die bravely for the sake of humanity. So, I will always hold truth, Justice and righteousness.