The Phaedo: A Platonic Labyrinth

Abstract

Since antiquity 'Phaedo' has been considered source of the twin pillars of - theory of ideas and immortality of soul. Burger's attempt to trace underlying argument of work as a whole leads to a radical rethinking of status of those doctrines. The movement of that argument is marked by structural division of dialogue into two halves, linked and separated by a central interlude in which Socrates warns against great danger of misology, or loss of trust in 'logos.' That danger, which threatens very possibility of philosophic inquiry, comes to overshadow threat posed by fear of death, which motivated original series of arguments. The turn this necessitates, from first to half of diaglogue, brings about a transformation of understanding of knowledge, ideas, soul, death, and immortality. With this second sailing, as Socrates calls it, Platonism presented in 'Phaedo' emerges as precisely target of which dialogue is a critique.

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