Plato

1
Plato

• On the Dialogues of Socrates

2
Before the Apology

• Faces accusers saying, You will have to make me
  a martyr the unexamined life is not worth
  living.
• Crito tries to convince Socrates to escape, but
  he will not. He believes in supporting the state
  and if we dont, anarchy will ensue.

3
The Apology

• Not an apology
• Socrates defines his actions and the accusations
  against him
• He systematically shows how the accusations and
  thus the accusers are without merit
• He does not beg, plead, or promise he will stop
  his questioning
• He is condemned to death but does not regret his
  life or actions

4
After the Apology pt 1

• He waits one year till the suicide so as not to
  die during the holy season
• During this time, Socrates continues speaking to
  those who visit him
• He first speaks of suicide saying that although
  philosophers search for death ( a freeing of the
  soul from the body) they should not commit
  suicide for they should leave this to the gods.
• Still, he is not unhappy to die, for he the
  philosopher will finally find the truth he has
  been seeking.

5
After the Apology pt 2

• Addresses the fears that a soul dissipates upon
  death oblivion and argues against it.
• All things have their opposites. Death the
  opposite from life - thus the connection. Life
  begets death therefore death must beget life
• The soul must have existed before therefore
  knowledge is relearning. The soul knew
  thingsbefore and forgot them upon birth and thus
  through life relearns.
• The problem being the imperfection of the body
  which makes it difficult for the soul to see
  things clearly.
• They agree to the souls previous existence, but
  cannot be assured that its existence will
  continue.

6
After the Apology pt 3

• The soul is of the unseen and unchanging
  therefore it may have many bodies and the bodies
  will fail, but it will continue to exist.
• He later makes an incorrect analogy of a weaver
  making many coats that wear out but the coats may
  outlast the weaver - thus they say couldnt a
  soul also be worn out?
• Socrates regroups and reanalyzes his position.
  The soul is immortal. As ideas are absolute so is
  the soul - heat may melt snow but cold cannot be
  converted into heat.
• He then discusses the judgment of souls most
  can be cleansed through repentance, but some
  only hell. The dead body is not the person -
  only the soul is the person.
• The poison is brought, he drinks it, walks until
  numb, lays down and dies.