Phaedo
Also known as Plat. Phaedo
Phaedo (; , Phaidōn) is a dialogue written by Plato, in which Socrates discusses the immortality of the soul and the nature of the afterlife with his friends in the hours leading up to his death. Socrates explores various arguments for the soul's immortality with the Pythagorean philosophers Simmias and Cebes of Thebes in order to show that there is an afterlife in which the soul will dwell following death. The dialogue concludes with a mythological narrative of the descent into Tartarus and an account of Socrates' execution.
Key facts
- Medieval text.name
- Phaedo
- Medieval text.alternative title(s)
- Φαίδων
- Medieval text.image
- Platonos_Phaedon.JPG
- Medieval text.caption
- Text from a 3rd century BCE papyrus fragment containing the Phaedo
- Medieval text.also known as
- On the Soul
- Medieval text.author(s)
- Plato
- Medieval text.compiled by
- Thrasyllus of Mendes
- Medieval text.language
- Attic Greek
Article
20 sectionsContents
- Background
- Characters
- Historical context
- Style, dating, and authorship
- Summary
- Introduction
- Cyclical argument
- Recollection argument
- Affinity argument
- Final argument
- Legacy
- Texts and translations
- Original texts
- Original texts with translation
- Translations
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Further reading
- External links
Phaedo (; , Phaidōn) is a dialogue written by Plato, in which Socrates discusses the immortality of the soul and the nature of the afterlife with his friends in the hours leading up to his death. Socrates explores various arguments for the soul's immortality with the Pythagorean philosophers Simmias and Cebes of Thebes in order to show that there is an afterlife in which the soul will dwell following death. The dialogue concludes with a mythological narrative of the descent into Tartarus and an account of Socrates' execution.
== Background == The dialogue is set in 399 BCE, in an Athenian prison, during the last hours prior to the death of Socrates. It is presented within a frame story by Phaedo of Elis, who is recounting the events to Echecrates, a Pythagorean philosopher.