1. Structure of the Phaedo Part I: philosophical life Preface 57a-59d : settings/frame Prologue 59d-69e : art of dying Part II: Immortality + the Forms Initial logoi –3 proofs + mythos (70a-84b) INTERLUDE 84c-91c Final logoi/mythos 91d-115a Part III: Epilogue 115a-118a: death

2. First Part of the Logos Cyclical Argument Argument from Recollection Affinity Argument Myth of Reincarnation

3. Cyclical Argument 1. If opposites come from opposites 2. And the live and dead are opposites (as are dying/coming-back-to-life) 3. Then the dead come to be from the living; and the living must come from the dead, i.e. souls must continue to exist, so they can be reborn. Criticisms? Cf. 70de 71e 72b ‘life’ is not a physical property. (but a kind of ‘psyche’) Non-mythological meaning & immortality

4. Recollection Argument 1. If we have knowledge not acquired in this life, we acquired it prior to this life 2. We have such knowledge--knowledge of the Ideas* 3. Therefore our souls existed prior to birth into our bodies * How do we know this? Because we cannot have acquired knowledge of the Forms from sense- perception (cf. also ‘proof’ in Meno 81-85 ). But what is the argument for this claim? (74-75) Note 73c, 74b, 74e-75c, 75e-76a, 76cd

5. Critical passage Do equal sticks and other equal (sense) objects ever seem equal in the same sense as the Equal itself? 74d Perceptual things = imperfectly alike = particulars in space and time seen differently by different perceivers Forms = perfectly equal = eternal universals = self-same to reason

6. Two examples of equality Pythagorean theorem: For all right-angled triangles, the square of the hypoteneuse = the sum of the squares of the sides How is this equality = different from the similar equality of a physical representation of it? Moral thesis: “All men are created equal, and possess inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” How is this equality & these rights different from the legal rights people have?

7. Knowledge, reason and perception Epistemology: Does all knowledge (a) derive from sense- perception or (b) is some innate? Is all knowledge justified by appeal to empirical evidence or is some based on reason alone? Socrates’ argument: Knowledge of Forms = ‘triggered’ by perception, but is (b) innate (imperfection argument) Math, logic, moral knowledge is not justified by induction from experience

8. Recollection Argument 1. If we have knowledge not acquired in this life, we acquired it prior* to this life 2. We have such knowledge--knowledge of the Ideas [triggered by experience] 3. Therefore our souls existed prior to birth into our bodies * Does this follow? Could we acquire it at birth? Note 73c, 74b, 74e-75c, 75e-76a, 76cd Implication for Argument and inference to step #3

9. Affinity Argument(s) 1 st argument (78b-79e) 1. The compound, changing, visible (e.g. sense-particulars) suffers dissolution/destruction; the simple, unchanging, invisible (e.g. Forms) does not 2. Soul is more like an invisible entity than visible 3. Therefore souls are likely to be unchanging, indissoluble, indestructible. 2 nd argument (80a-b) 1. The divine rules, the mortal is ruled 2. Soul rules the body 3. Therefore soul is like the divine, body like the mortal

10. 2 Worlds in the Phaedo Sensible Objects of perception Particulars in space, time No universal, necessary laws Persons = human bodies Intelligible Objects of reason Universals beyond space, time Universal, necessary truths Persons = moral & rational souls

11. Myth of Reincarnation Puzzles: Reincarnation vs. resurrection? heaven & hell? Is soul separate from body (64c) or throughout it (67d)? If soul is entirely separate, how can it ‘rule’ the body (80ab)? If soul is permeated (81c) by the corporeal, how can it be separate? Be reborn? How is soul the agent of its imprisonment (82e)? Its liberation? Two interpretations of reincarnation: mythical: soul-substance ethical: character-formation

12. Logos and Mythos in Phaedo I M y t h o s 1. Cyclical: individual immortality 2. Recollection: we possess all knowledge prior to birth 3. Affinity: immortal souls 4. Reincarnation: reborn as animals corresponding to morals L o g o s 1. Cyclical: species immortality 2. Recollection: innatism and the Forms 3. Affinity arguments: reason 4. Reincarnation: shape our characters by choices, actions