Plato Immortality of the Soul - 1505 Words

PHAEDO: IMMORTALITY OF SOUL In the dialogue Phaedo Plato discusses the immortality of the soul. He presents four different arguments to prove the fact that although the body of the human perishes after death; the soul still exists and remains eternal. Firstly, he explains the Argument from Opposites that is about the forms and their existence in opposite forms. His second argument is Theory of Recollection which assumes that each and every information that one has in his/her mind is related to information and plays an important role in remembering. While trying to convince his readers, Plato proposes another argument claiming that the soul and the body are different forms. While the body is visible and mortal, the soul is invisible and†¦show more content†¦Therefore, Plato suggests that soul is immortal and does not vanish away with death and it is a living entity. In order to broaden his listener’s perspective on immortality of the soul, Plato guides his listeners in grasping that there are tw o kinds of existences: visible and invisible. He tries to demonstrate the fact that when the body is visible and mortal, the soul belongs to invisible category. Therefore, when one dies, the visible part of the body vanishes away, while the soul preserves its existence. Lastly, Plato uses his Theory of Forms which proposes that every quality has to participate in a form in order to exist. Plato believes that the soul exists in Form of Life which enables it to become alive and immortal. That is, Plato associates soul with life pointing out its immortality one more time. Plato finishes the dialogue by showing that Socrates has no fear of death since his soul will exist after death. Plato does not perceive death as an end but a new beginning. He finishes by showing Socrates’ commitment to his own ideas. In this dialogue, Plato proves Socrates’ loyalty to his own ideas. While trying to prove the immortality of the soul, Plato proposes many arguments. While questioning it, some of his arguments fall short of persuasion. Firstly, it is important to realize why Plato believes in immortality of the soul. It seems that since philosophers do not give muchShow MoreRelatedPlato s Views On The Immortality Of The Soul1391 Words   |  6 Pagesdialogues Phaedo, Plato touches on some of the theories of Socrates that focus on the immortality of the soul. Plato explains four main arguments that attempt to prove that the soul is indeed immortal. After reviewing and analyzing the arguments given, I have come to the conclusion that Plato’s premises are not true. I believe that the arguments he offers are in some way invalid. In order to prove the validity of each discourse, I will evaluate each of the four arguments Plato presents. BeforeRead MorePlato s Phaedo For The Immortality Of The Soul1701 Words   |  7 PagesPlato s final argument in Phaedo for the immortality of the soul is one of the most interesting topics of all time. The argument of whether the soul exists has been debated for years and even today. It goes hand to hand with the application of the theory of forms to the question of the soul s immortality, as Plato constantly reminds us, the theory of forms is the most certain of all his theories. The Phaedo is Plato’s attempt to convince us of the immortality of the soul by using several main argumentsRead MorePlato’s 1st Argument for the Immortality of the Soul from Opposites and Theory of Reincarnation999 Words   |  4 PagesPlato’s 1st argument for the Immortality of the Soul from opposites and Theory of Reincarnation Plato’s Phaedo is a dialog between Phaedo, Cebes and Simmias where Socrates gives some arguments for the immortality of the soul. In this work, Phaedo tells us about Socrates’ final days, who has been convicted to death. Great philosopher does not have a fear of death because he believes that when a man dies, the soul still exists even if the body perishes. Trying to prove his argumentsRead MoreWhy Does Plato Think That the Soul Is Immortal? Is He Right? Discuss with Close Reference to Phaedo 102a-107b.1609 Words   |  7 PagesWhy does Plato think that the soul is immortal? Is he right? Discuss with close reference to Phaedo 102a-107b. The Phaedo is Plato’s attempt to convince the reader of the immortality of the soul using four main arguments. These include the argument of affinity, recollection, Forms and the law of opposites. In the final passage of the Phaedo, (Grube, 2002:102a-107b), Plato provides his ‘Final Proof’, despite seeming like the most conclusive argument it is not necessarily the most convincing. PlatoRead MoreThe Flaws of Plato ´s Phaedo Essay1306 Words   |  6 Pagesfor the immortality of the soul is one of the most interesting topics of all time. It goes hand to hand with the application of the theory of forms to the question of the souls immortality, as Plato constantly reminds us, the theory of forms is the most certain of all his theories. The Phaedo is Plato’s attempt to convince us of the immortality of the soul by using several main arguments. These include the argument of forms and the law of opposites. In the final passage of the Phaedo, Plato providesRead More Recollection in Platos Phaedo and Meno Essay602 Words   |  3 Pagestexts, Plato is often misrepresented as merely reproducing Socratic rhetoric. In Meno, one of the first Platonic dialogues, Plato offers his own unique philosophical theory, infused with his mentors brilliant sophistry. 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Cebes is unconvinced that the soul doesn’t die concurrently with the body, which leads him to create an alternative analogy. Cebes’ imperfect analogy compares the body and soul to a cloak and a weaver, respectively. A cloak can be worn over and over again, which represents multiple human lives in a body. The weaver, however, outlasts each cloak until the last cloak dies. Cebes argues that because the weaver no long has a cloak to wear, he will die. This means that although the soul mayRead MoreWhy Is Graham Hess Is The End Of The Worl d Essay1507 Words   |  7 Pagesbeing Plato and Descartes’ concept of Immortality of the Soul, Descartes’ arguments for God’s existence, and lastly Plato’s Theory of the Forms. All present a plausible argument towards the basis of God’s existence and not believing in coincidences. The Immortality of the Soul is an important concept in an argument towards there being a possibility that there is no such thing as coincidences. Plato’s Phaedo presents this central question, which is the concept of the immortality of the soul. PlatoRead MoreThe Soul and the Body: The Writings of Plato1766 Words   |  7 PagesThe Soul and the Body Philosophy is an old profession going back to the beginnings of recorded history. Since the times of the Greeks and Romans, people have taken it upon themselves to question the reality of their worlds and to wonder what it is that causes people to behave the ways that they do and what it means even to just be human. Plato, one of the most famous of the ancient philosophers, was taught by another most famous philosopher, Socrates a man perhaps even better known than him. Unfortunately