PHI 2323 Lecture 4

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Philosophy Tutoring

Handout

Papineau's argument is problematic, but we're not in a position to dig deeper (not yet, anyway).

Also known as On the Soul.

Socrates is ... a complicated fellow ...
Plato sometimes uses Socrates to sound off his own beliefs
- Phaedo is probably one of these such instances
- Nonetheless, it presents significant questions!

Theseus, the prince of Athens, saved his people from the Minotaur
- Took along 14 people (to be offered and/or to help him in his mission)
- "to this day" a ship sails in his honor, and no one may be executed until that ship returns
Phaedo names 14 people present at Socrates' death
- Phaedo does not name himself
Socrates' death is seen as a triumph, not a demise
- conquering the "minotaur" of the subject of the soul
- "liberating" his people (fellow philosophers) from the tyranny of... something.

Socrates calls philosophy "the highest art"
- The word for art is μουσῐκή → "music" (think about the Muses)
- Music aims at a harmony of sound :: philosophy aims at harmony of mind/thought... and soul

Socrates has been sentenced to die
he believes in an afterlife and is not afraid to die
he asks Evenus to die with him as soon as possible—but not to take his own life?
- Socrates argues human beings are the "belongings/playthings of the gods"
- If something we owned killed itself without our wishing it to, we would be upset, wouldn't we?

The following question came up: Do we have to understand God to understand self?

To be continued... [Socratic circles]