Plato’s “Phaedo” — Study Questions
“Phaedo” means “about the soul” -- Study Questions. In the “Phaedo” Socrates ponders the existence
... [Show More] of the
immortal soul. Please pay close attention to the shift in the dialogue that begins at 114d (numbers in the
margin, not the page number). Required reading begins at 114 d. Suggested reading is the entire dialogue. The
exam shall focus on ideas within 114 d through the end of the “Phaedo”, i.e., 118 a.
1. “No sensible man would insist that these things as I have describe them, but I think it is fitting for a man to
risk the belief -- for the risk is a noble one.” (114 D) Why would a sensible man not insist on all that is
discussed before this in Plato’s “Phaedo”? [Note: I shall explain in class]
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2. What does Socrates mean by “ . . . .I think it is fitting for a man to risk the belief . . . [in the immortal soul]“.
Consider the difference between belief, opinion and knowledge. (114 d)
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3. What is the difference between the pleasures of the body and the pleasures of learning. Is one superior to
the other? Please explain. (115)
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4. With what, according to Socrates, ought one adorn one’s soul? (115)
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5. Why is it important, according to Socrates, to “ . . . save the women the trouble of washing the corpse”?
(115a/b)
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It is better to risk the fact that Socrates is going to die In belief there is no ague
Pleasures of the body is about lust and selfish thought and the pleasure of learning is its passion to learn
He wants to be just until he dies and tries to be clean so that the women doesn’t have to clean the body.
We should be doing a just life and just things. Having that leap of faith. How can we prove the unknown.
When we don know, Risking the of belief. No person will believe the unknown but can believe what we don’t know [Show Less]