The Death of Socrates and the Life of Philosophy: An Interpretation of Plato's PhaedoWhile the Phaedo is most famous for its moving portrayal of Socrates' death and its arguments for the immortality of the soul, Ahrensdorf argues that the dialogue is primarily devoted to presenting Socrates' final defense of the philosophic life against the theoretical and political challenge of religion. Through a careful analysis of both the historical context of the Phaedo and the arguments and drama of the dialogue, Ahrensdorf argues that Socrates' defense of rationalism is singularly undogmatic and that a study of that defense can lead us to a clearer understanding and a deeper and richer appreciation of the case both for and against rationalism. |
Contents
for Immortality | 115 |
Socrates Warning Against Misology | 129 |
Socrates Response to Simmias Argument Against Immortality | 149 |
Socrates Response to Cebes Argument Against Immortality | 161 |
The Ending of the Dialogue | 189 |
Notes | 207 |
Selected Bibliography | 231 |
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The Death of Socrates and the Life of Philosophy: An Interpretation of Plato ... Peter J. Ahrensdorf No preview available - 1995 |
Common terms and phrases
according acquire afterlife agree Alcibiades altogether Anaxagoras Andocides Apology of Socrates argue argument for immortality argument for mortality Aristophanes Athenians attain wisdom attunement argument believe bodily elements body Bostock Burger Burnet Cebes and Simmias claim companions conclusion consequently continue to exist Crito dead defense deserve dialogue Diogenes Laertius distrust Dorter doubts Echecrates encourages everlasting happiness evil example explain friends fulfill his duty Furthermore Gallop gods Hackforth 1955 Hades hence hope for immortality human and mortal ideas imperishable impiety charge knowledge learning is recollection least living ment misanthrope misologist misology nature Nicias opinion Parmenides perish persecution persuade Phaedo pher philoso philosopher philosopher's pious Plato Apology pleasure Plutarch possess possible Protagoras punished pure wisdom purify pursuit of wisdom question readiness to die reason seeks senses Sextus Empiricus Simmias and Cebes simply Socrates seems Socrates suggests soul is immortal speeches Stern thereby true truly truth wise Xanthippe Xenophon