Phaedo- Four Levels
Author: Plato
Unit 2: Ancient Tales
Subject: Adventure in English Volume I
Literal Comprehension
The Phaedo is one of the popular works of Plato and it is believed that this work was actually very close to his heart. This advances the claim that it is an actual account of the exchanges and activities that took place when Socrates, Plato’s mentor was executed by the government of Athens. The order for Socrates to be executed had arrived but because the mission to Delos had not been completed, the process was postponed. This actually got many people sad because they knew Socrates would not be saved and was just anticipating his death. When the mission was finally completed and the ship sailed back to Athens, Socrates’ execution date had been finalized.
Sad friends and students of Socrates joined him in the prison to spend his final moments together. They were all really sad but all Socrates had to tell them was to not be sad. He even scolded them. They spent the day talking about their usual philosophical discussions. He was then taken to another room to bathe. After the bath, he came out looking fresh and not at all afraid of the bowl of poison waiting for him. After a while, a prison official came inside with the bowl of poison. He gave it so Socrates and commanded him to drink it. With tears in his eyes, he asked his students to not lose heart, as he was being executed for doing the right thing and not the wrong. He then drank the poison in a calm matter with no change in his facial expression. When his friends could not control their tears, he scolded them. Socrates then started to walk and possibly enjoy the feel of the earth in his legs. Alas, the poison had constricted his movements and he was down. However, instead of making any comments on how scared he was, he wished to offer a cock to Asclepius, the healing god. Socrates then closed his eyes forever, giving a different meaning to being brave until the very end.
Interpretation
This dialogue of Plato has been known worldwide for its interpretation about death. Life and death, are both important and equally inevitable. No one can cheat death; everyone has to die someday. It is essential to accept the fate that we were all born to live. Dying knowing you stood your ground and have done better than bad is also really essential. Socrates did that, and instead of being afraid and sad, he chose to die bravely. He left his students and friends with the perfect and accurate impression of him; a brave man. He had accepted his death for the sake of truth and humanity.
Critical Thinking
This story dives into how being truthful and real does not always get you the end result you wished for. Socrates was only leading the youth to believe in themselves and to value their opinion. But he was arrested on the accusation of misleading the youth, so this brings in a lot of ideas that are unacceptable.
Why was the right to express oneself a sin in Athens?
Do the people today follow the principles just like Socrates did before?
Does life after death exists?
Do we believe that there is more of the soul that exists after death?
Assimilation
Before reading this chapter, I never thought of death this way. I always thought that death is a loss that takes away everything of the dead person. But years after, Socrates lives on through his wisdom. Even this story, if Socrates had been a coward and had not been brave to face his death, he would just be another person that died. However, the way he stood his ground is something that lives on forever. Being brave about the inevitable by upholding the truth, justice and righteousness is something that was the valuable lesson that I learned from this chapter.
