Phaedo

Phaedo

Plato Greece (427 Bc-347Bc)

The philosophic essay teaches us about the importance of death. Death is inevitable. Everyone should die sooner or later. So, one should accept heroic death for the sake of truth, justice and prosperity like Socrates accepts the death calmy for the sake of righteousness because he thinks that man after death reaches to heaven.

b. Write the four levels of meanings to the text  ”Phaedo”.

Literal Comprehension: This text was written by Plato, a great Greek philosopher and disciple of Socrates. It is about the last moment of Socrates’ death and his philosophy of life, death and rebirth. Socrates was amused of misleading youths of Athens teaching his philosophy. For the punishments, the ruler declared his death sentence. Phaedo was present when Socrates was killed feeding poisons. So, he has reported here what was the overall condition of Socrates at the last hour. Because of a mission Socrates’ death execution was delayed until the arrival of the ship from Delos. When the last time was approaching Socrates was teaching his philosophy of life, death and beginning of new life to his disciples and people. His wife, family, relatives were very much sad. On the day of execution when he finished his philosophical discussion and took bath. Then the prison officer came and ordered him to take a bowl of poison. There was no chance in the condition of Socrates. He drank the poison happily. When the poison spread all parts of his body he sat down and happily took his last breathe. He made a last wish with Crito to offer a cock to the healing god, Asclepius.  

 Interpretation: This philosophical text might be trying to expose about life death and rebirth. It tells that life and death are two sides of a coin. Death is a beginning of new life not the end of life. The text also might be trying to tell about the importance of death. Death is compulsory if we get life or birth. We should accept death happily because this is a good chance of next life again. Like Socrates we all should try to be the noblest and wisest person. He accepts death naturally because he thinks only after death the heavenly happiness can be achieved. Dying bravely is better than living like dead one. Death is not any dangerous thing we have to be afraid of rather a right path to the life of infinity.

Critical Thinking: This lesson has done a lot to avoid the people’s fear and negative concept about death. Normally, we think death negatively and always scare of it. But Socrates has faced it bravely and wisely to teach the lesson to all cowardice people who are chicken hearted in term of death. But there are some disagreeable aspects that can be raised there. Socrates says death is a path to heavenly happiness. If so: Is there so far scientific proof of god, heaven, hell like things? Can we find Socrates like person at present? Can a person become cheerful at the last hour of file?, etc. still the moral aspect of the lesson is unquestionable one.

 Assimilation: Before reading this text, I used to be too much frightened of death and loss of precious life. When I read this text I got new insight in my life. I should be ready to go leaving everything. After death there can be the beginning of next life. I left becoming much greedy, money-minded and cruel to other people. Similarly, we must be very- very much courageous to accept any challenge that comes on the way of life. These types of visions charged my thinking of life and death very much.

c. Basing your answer on the text (Phaedo) answer the question: How should a human being face death?

Or

What is the significance of the story (Phaedo) to you? Would you do anything different in your life because you read this text?

In this story ‘Phaedo’ there is a discussion between Phaedo, a devoted disciple of Socrates and Echecrates regarding the last condition and way, how Socrates died. When the guru was dying the devoted disciple, Phaedo was observing everything. So, now when Echecrates is asking about the situation and process of his death he is telling everything that had happened.

According to Phaedo, Socrates was charged of misleading the minds of youths teaching them his philosophy. He used to make great speech about our life, soul, death and life after. According to him death is not the ultimate end but a road to go to eternal life(world). So, he dislikes having any special burial. When, there was death sentence Socrates was not worried at all. He was teaching his disciples about his philosophy until his last hour. Again, he has shown himself as an example of how a human should face death. Though the officer, his disciple, his family members were sad while Socrates was fed hemlock (poison) Socrates himself was ever in smiling and graceful mood. There was no any hesitation in taking poison. Even when the poison started pain his body he didn’t show his seriousness rather happily accepted the upcoming death.

This text tells us that we should accept the death as a natural incident that leads the way to eternity. Reading this text I got the new idea that we shouldn’t be so serious about facing death, rather we should accept it without fear. Again, death is compulsory to everybody, so why should be fearful to accept it. Sooner or later everybody has to die. For human life and death are two parts of a coin who gets birth, he is sure to face death.

This text taught me about the real meaning of death and life. I am no more worried in facing it. Like other poets and philosophers the dead life is again alive. It means dead is luckier. It is sure that death will comes one day so we should accept it as a part of our life fearlessly, happily and gently. Why is there fear in death when we know that we must die? Great people like Socrates have heroic death because they have done heroic works. Still biologists are searching its prove, and they say there may be the existence of soul elsewhere.