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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 4 page paper discusses the "Phaedo" by Plato, and argues that Socrates has failed to prove the immortality of the soul, or even its existence. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
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4 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_HVPhaedo.rtf
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question of survival was on his mind. This paper discusses Socrates arguments in favor of immortality, but concludes that they are not convincing and argues instead that the soul is
not immortal, nor can it be proven to exist. Discussion The dialogue begins when Echecrates asks Phaedo if he was present when Socrates drank the drug, and Phaedo replies that
he was (Plato). Echecrates says that he would like to hear what Socrates said, and the dialogue begins (Plato). The entire discussion is very long, but we are interested here
in the arguments that Socrates makes in favor of the immortality of the soul. He does this because Cebes, a Theban, wants to know if its possible that the soul
simply disappears at death; evaporates so to speak: " ...when it is released from the body, it may no longer be anywhere, but on that day the person dies it
is destroyed and lost; immediately running away from the body and going out it is scattered like breath or smoke to depart vanishing and it would no longer be anywhere"
(Plato). Simmias, also a Theban, asks similar questions, particularly later in the dialogue, when he makes a very telling point by comparing the human body to a harp (Plato). If
the harp is broken the music stops; if the human dies, doesnt the soul also vanish? (Plato). It is to answer these concerns and arguments that Socrates offers his four
"proofs" of the immortality of the soul. These four are: the Opposites Argument, the Theory of Recollection, the Affinity Argument and the Argument from Form of Life (Phaedo, 2006). In
the Opposites Argument (all of these are conducted using the Socratic Method, which is only fitting) Socrates asks Cebes if it isnt true that things create their opposites (Plato). That
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