Plato's Phaedo

by Plato

Overview

Plato's Phaedo, written by legendary author Plato, is widely considered to be one of the greatest classic texts of all time. This great classic will surely attract a whole new generation of readers. For many, Plato's Phaedo is required reading for various courses and curriculums. And for others who simply enjoy reading timeless pieces of classic literature, this gem by Plato is highly recommended. Published by Classic Books International and beautifully produced, Plato's Phaedo would make an ideal gift and it should be a part of everyone's personal library.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452840956
Publisher:	CreateSpace Publishing
Publication date:	05/06/2010
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	84
Sales rank:	694,385
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.17(d)

About the Author

Plato, one of the most famous philosophers in the world, lived during the Classical Period in Ancient Greece. A student of Socrates and a teacher to Aristotle, he was the founder of The Academy, the first school of higher learning in Europe. Plato is the most prominent figure in the history of Ancient Greek philosophy and the originator of the Platonist school of thought. Using dramatic elements like dialogue and humor, his form of writing was considered innovative in his time. Plato's best–known work, The Republic, is widely acknowledged as the cornerstone of Western philosophy. His other extensively read works include The Symposium, Apology, Crito, Phaedo, and The Laws.

Table of Contents

	Preface	ix
	List of Abbreviations	x
	Introduction
I	The purpose of the dialogue and its position in the Platonic writings	3
II	Stylometric arguments. The transcendent forms	8
III	The nature of the soul	11
IV	The characters	12
V	The arguments for the immortality of the soul	16
VI	Arguments for immortality in other dialogues	19
	Translation and Commentary
I	57A-59C: Introductory conversation	27
II	59C-62C: Socrates as poet. The wickedness of suicide	32
III	62C-64C: The philosopher's readiness to die	39
IV	64C-67B: The philosopher's detachment from the body	44
V	67B-69E: Moral virtue, genuine and spurious	52
VI	69E-72D: The first argument for immortality. The cycle of opposites	58
VII	72E-77A: A complementary argument. The theory of recollection	66
VIII	77A-78B: Combined results of the two preceding arguments. Socrates as charmer	78
IX	78B-80C: Third argument. The kinship of souls and forms	81
X	80C-82D: The after-life of unpurified souls	87
XI	82D-85B: Socrates describes the philosopher's progress and declares his swan-song to be a song of joy	92
XII	85B-88B: Simmias and Cebes explain their doubts	97
XIII	88C-91C: Interlude. A warning against 'misology'	105
XIV	91C-95A: Refutation of Simmias's theory of soul	112
XV	95A-99D: Socrates as student of natural science	121
XVI	99D-102A: The new method of hypothesis	133
XVII	102A-105B: The exclusion of opposites	147
XVIII	105B-107B: The argument concluded. Soul is both deathless and indestructible	158
XIX	107C-110B: Myth of the after-life	167
XX	110B-112E: The splendour of the true earth. The rivers of the underworld	176
XXI	112E-115A: The myth concluded. Its truth and value	182
XXII	115B-118: The last scene	187
	Additional Notes	191
	The Criticisms of Strato	195
	Index of Names	199