by Max Barry

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Region: The Commonwealth of Crowns

Phaedo (Φαίδων, Phaidōn) parts IV & V by Platon
AudioEbook: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b8hE92CuFY&t=3699s
Text: https://genius.com/Plato-phaedo-full-text-annotated

Platon's character portraying the Elean philosopher Phaidon continues his account of the last hours of Sokrates to the Pythagorean philosopher Echekrates (Ἐχεκράτης). By now, Sokrates has convinced the Theban philosophers Simmias and Kebes that the soul exists before birth with his Cyclical argument and the Theory of Recollection argument. However, each holds out reservations against the claim that the soul survives after death, to which Sokrates replies with what is called the Affinity argument. Once more the Thebans express reservations - Simmias compares the body to a lyre and the soul to a harmony, while Kebes compares the body to a coat and the soul to weaver that may outlive multiple coats in his life but is still not immortal. These analogies trouble his friends, but Sokrates admonishes against succumbing to misology (hatred of ideas), which he likens to misanthropy. He answers Simmias first, while his reply to Kebes argues from the Form of Life and will be posted next week.

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